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■i    ;<:ENDHICK    WRIGHT 


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PERKINS  LIBRARY 

Duke   Universitj 


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in  2010  witii  funding  from 
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littp://www.arcliive.org/details/dalleszonaseventOOwrig 


DALLESZONA 


DALLESZONA 

AND 

THE  SEVENTH  TREASURE 


By 
ALLEN  KENDRICK  WRIGHT 


Taw-No-Ker  Series 


BOSTON 
THE  ROXBURGH  PUBLISHING  CO.,  INC. 


Copyright,  1922 
By  The  Roxburgh  Publishing  Co.,  Inc. 


All  Rights  Reserved 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I     Highfinger's  Story g 

II     Magic  Mystery  Maid 26 

III  Highfinger's  Last  Journey    41 

IV  The  Road  to  Truxlan 6s 

V     Saxon  Meets  Iximaga   81 

VI     An   Interpreter  of  Dreams    98 

VII     Toltec  Trails   136 

VIII     The  Chancellor   180 


CHAPTER  I 
Highfinger's  Story 

"Ben  Igo  Saxon,  Aviator." 

Highfinger's  eyes  blazed  and  his  whole  face 
flamed  with  excitement  as  he  read  this  line  in  the 
Nogales  Hotel  register. 

"Mr.  Clerk,  where  is  this  aviator.?" 

"That's  him, — that  big  fellow  in  the  rocker 
there.     I  guess — " 

But  Highfinger  was  gone. 

"Pardon  me,  Sir.     Be  you  Mr.  Saxon?" 

"Yessir.     What  can  I  do  for  you?" 

"Can  you  fight?" 

"Never  again.     I  have  just  returned  from  six 
months    in    France,    shooting    down    Hun    aero- 
planes, and  won't  have  any  more  scrapping.     I'm 
a  peace  man  forevermore." 
9 


Dalleszona 

"Give  us  your  hand,  old  boy:  you're  my  pal 
and  pilot.  I'm  a  prospector  from  Rochester, 
Nevada.  You  can  always  count  on  a  prospector 
starting  something,  and  I'm — I  mean  we,  now, 
are  going  to  start  a  revolution  in  Mexico." 

"Then  you'll  have  to  go  alone,  old  sport,  so 
far  as  I'm  concerned;  for  I'm  not  fostering  any 
revolutions  outside  of  Ben  Saxon's  own  private 
graveyard,  and  even  there  I  don't  bury  anything 
except  good  resolutions." 

"But  listen  to  me,  Saxon,  for  a  minute.  You 
must  have  come  to  Nogales  to  make  money. 
No  sane  man  would  come  for  any  other  reason, 
except  health,  and  you  sure  look  healthy  now. 
I'm  here  to  show  you  how  to  make  money, — lots 
of  it,  quickly  and  honestly." 

"All  right,  Mr.  what's  your  name,  Highfinger, 
fire  away.     I'm  all  attention." 

Three  fingers  were  missing  from  the  old  man's 
10 


Highfinger's  Story 

left  hand,  and  the  index  finger  that  remained 
was  pointing  straight  up  now,  and  his  whole 
body  was  quivering  with  intense  earnestness. 

"See  that  hand,  Saxon  ?  Three  fingers  bit  off. 
No,  I'm  not  sayin'  what  bit  'em  off,  but  losin' 
'em  has  kept  me  out  of  more'n  a  million  fights. 
Yessum.  A  fellow  can't  make  much  of  a  fist 
with  only  one  finger.  When  I  double  that  up, 
so,  the  other  fellow  most  always  laughs,  and 
the  fight  is  all  off.  You  see,  I'm  veteran  of  a 
thousand  fierce  arguments.  When  that  finger 
points  straight  up,  so,  it  just  nachelly  draws 
inspiration  from  the  starry  firmament  same  as  a 
trolley  pulls  juice  from  a  live  wire  or  a  preacher 
gets  eloquence  from  a  big  collection.  Yessum. 
But  when  it  points  straight  out,  so,  it  shoots 
conviction  faster'n  a  Colt  automatic  can  shoot 
steel-nosed  bullets. 

"Y'  see,  Saxon,  I  broke  up  a  riot  in  Nevada 
11 


Dalleszona  '■  -^ 

with  that  finger.  Fact.  Durin'  the  stampede  in 
Rochester,  a  dozen  men  workin'  an'  twenty-five 
hundred  idle,  J.  B.  Darnes,  known  as  'The 
Jackhammer  Kid,'  just  out  o'  Comstock,  started 
auction  sale  on  three  kegs  of  peach  brandy. 
Yessum.  An'  about  fifty  fellows  chipped  in  and 
bought  'em — didn't  care  for  the  brandy — just 
wanted  to  help  the  auctioneer  out.  Kind-hearted, 
that's  it.  But  when  they  opened  'em,  'twan't 
peach  brandy  at  all.  No,  sir.  Just  grape  juice 
that  wouldn't  make  the  drunk  come  inside  of 
twelve  hours.  Think  o'  that!  Waitin'  twelve 
hours  for  a  drunk  to  come  when  a  fellow  's  in 
a  hurry.  'Y  its  a  crime.  A  prospector  can't 
wait  always  for  returns.  He's  used  to  quick 
money,  or  none,  mostly  none,  an'  that  was  the 
maddest  bunch  you  ever  saw.  An*^  when  some 
one  said  Darnes  was  at  the  Palace  Saloon  run  by 
George  De  Luke,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  gulch 
12 


Hiffhfitiffer's  Story 

they  called  Main  Street,  they  started  that  way, 
an'  everybody  joined  the  parade  till  it  was  two 
thousand  strong  an'  niore'n  a  hundred  per  cent 
crazy,  an'  rollin'  down  that  gulch  like  a  cloud 
burst. 

"I  had  just  come  out  of  Mother  Wilson's  soup 
brewery  chock  full  o'  chile  con  carne  and  horse 
radish,  an'  my  voltage  was  runnin'  dangerously 
high.  An'  when  I  see  all  them  two  thousand 
miners  all  in  evenin'  dress  (every  one  of  'em  had 
on  a  six  shooter  an'  most  of  'em  two),  I  knew 
extinctively  my  hour  had  come.  Yessum.  The 
bell  of  destiny  was  soundin'  in  my  ears  louder'n 
an  airplane  motor  goin'  two  hundred  miles  an 
hour,  an'  I  thought  it  must  jar  the  universe.  So 
I  climbed  on  a  big  boulder  an'  shouted,  'Fellow- 
plutocrats  and  multi-millionaires,  that  auctioneer 
fellow,  Jackhammer  Kid,  left  for  Oreana  over'n 
hour  ago,  and  I'm  commissioned  by  the  Holy  Gee 
13 


Dalleszona 

of  Rome  [Of  course  I  meant  the  Holy  See,  or 
Ocean,  whichever  it  is,  but  the  crowd  was  up  in 
"G"]  to  tell  you  about  the  richest  gold  diggin's 
ever  located  on  this  planet  or  any  other  satellite 
or  malachite  of  the  solar  and  lunatic  system,' 
Then  a  swamper  from  Goodsprings,  Nevada, 
shouted,  'How  about  the  Breyfogle'?  An'  I 
says,  'Gentlemen,  honest  to  goodness,  the  Brey- 
fogle, Pegleg,  Morning  Star,  Lost  Gunsight  and 
Lost  Aztec  mines  all  put  together  wouldn't  count 
as  a  penny  ante  in  the  Golden  Treasures  of  the 
Yaki  Indians  in  Mexico.  Mark  you,  the  first 
treasure.  For  they  have  seven  treasures,  each 
one  growin'  richer,  an'  I've  located  the  seventh, 
Selah!' 

"By  that  time  this  finger  was  pointin'  hori- 
zontal an'  throwin'  sparks  of  conviction  into  them 
fellers   faster'n    limburger   cheese    can    discharge 
delicious  odors.     Well,   Sir,  believe  me  or  not, 
14 


Highfinger's  Story 

but  inside  o'  ten  minutes  that  whole  menagerie 
was  singin',  'We'll  all  be  gay  old  millionaires 
when  Pay  Day  comes  again,'  and  every  one  of 
them  was  figurin'  how  he  could  slip  away  that 
night  and  be  the  first  to  hit  the  trail  for  Mexico. 
Such  is  the  power  of  truth.     Yessum. 

"Now  to  get  down  to  business,  Saxon,  I  don't 
want  to  start  a  revolution  in  Mexico,  nor  any- 
where else  at  present;  but  I  do  know  that  there 
are  millions  and  millions  of  dollars  of  gold  in  a 
gulch  on  Yaki  Indian  lands  in  Alexico,  not  doin' 
them  nor  anybody  any  good,  and  I  want  a 
Hundred  Thousand  of  that  gold.  Not  any  more 
nor  any  less.  It  will  take  just  an  even  hundred 
thousand  to  do  what  I  must  do  before  I  die. 
You  see,  I've  had  four  stakes  in  my  time :  seventy- 
five  thousand  once  in  Colorado,  fifty  thousand  in 
Idaho,  thirty  thousand  in  South  Africa,  and 
twenty-five  thousand  in  Nevada.  In  fact,  I've 
15 


Dalleszona 

got  twenty-five  thousand  deposited  in  that  bank 
over  there  now;  but  that  will  not  do.  I  must 
have  a  hundred  thousand,  and  if  you'll  help  me, 
I'll  get  the  same  for  you  inside  of  thirty  days." 
"But,  Mr.  Highfinger,  if  that  belongs  to  the 
Yakis,  we  have  no  more  right  to  take  it  from 
them  than  from  some  white  man  in  Arizona.  I 
have  a  conscience,  and  it's  just  this  grabbing 
things  you  happen  to  want  that  has  made  four 
years  of  hell  in  Europe,  and  buried  seventy 
thousand  of  our  American  boys  in  French  soil. 
The  Kaiser  wanted  some  French  coal  and  iron 
mines,  and  without  regard  to  others'  rights, 
without  fear  of  God,  Man  or  Devil,  has  slaugh- 
tered millions  of  human  beings  and  almost  bank- 
rupted a  world  in  an  insane  attempt  to  take 
them.  And  now  you  and  thousands  of  other 
citizens  of  the  United  States  say,  'To  hades  with 
the  Yakis  and  Mexicans.  We  want  their  lands 
16 


Highfinger's  Story 

and  mines.  Of  course  we  do  not  want  to  resort 
to  bullets  and  bayonets,  but  we  must  have  the 
goods.'  All  the  difference  between  us  and  the 
Kaiser  is,  he  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions 
and  avarice,  and  built  up  a  militarism  of  men 
and  materials, — physical  force, — while  we  Ameri- 
cans build  a  militarism  of  brains  and  commercial 
shrewdness, — intellectual  force.  But  one  is  just 
as  conscienceless  as  the  other,  and  must  erelong 
work  out  universal  destruction  of  race  and  gov- 
ernments. Financial  insanity  is  paralyzing  con- 
science in  the  United  States  in  particular  and  the 
white  race  in  general.  I  believe  the  other  fellow 
has  as  many  rights  as  I  have." 

"Charming,  charming,  Mr.  Saxon ;  mighty 
good  doctrine  for  reformers.  But  you  and  I 
ain't  reformers,  and  if  we  were,  Nogales  is  not 
the  best  place  to  start  something.  'God  helps 
them  that  helps  themselves.  Keep  what  you  get 
17 


Dalleszo7ia 

and  get  what  you  can,'  is  good  enough  motto  for 
me  and  about  seventy  millions  other  Americans. 
Mexico  is  the  richest  country  on  earth,  but  the 
Yakis  nor  Mexicans  haven't  got  sense  enough  to 
use  it,  and  I  say,  'Clean  'em  up.  Make  'em 
behave,  so  we  U.  S.  boys  can  go  in  and  get 
concessions  we  want,  or  take  the  whole  bloomin' 
country  and  develop  the  matchless  resources  for 
the  present  generation.  Every  fellow  for  him- 
self.    Forward !'  " 

"Yes,  Mr.  Highfinger,  I  know  that's  the 
slogan  of  power  to-day;  but  you  know  as  well 
as  I  do,  it's  dead  wrong.  The  timq  has  come 
when  this  old  world's  affairs  must  be  run  on  this 
platform,  'Equal  rights  to  all.  Special  privileges 
to  none,'  or  skid  to  failure  everlasting. 

"If  this  hellish  European  war  is  to  be  of  any 
good  to  humanity,  politics  and  politicians  must 
take  a  back  pew,  and  governments  be  run  for 
18 


Highfinger's  Story 

the  benefit  of  the  governed.  You  know,  every 
sane  thinking  man  knows,  there  is  not  a  pure 
democracy  on  earth  to-day.  Probably  the  good 
old  U.  S.  A.  comes  the  nearest  to  it.  But  Presi- 
dent Wilson  advised  war,  Congress  voted  it,  and 
nine  million  boys  practically  repudiated  that  vote 
by  refusing  to  volunteer.  Had  to  be  drafted. 
And  when  the  millions  of  boys  were  lined  up  to 
bare  their  breasts  to  the  crimson  tide  of  European 
slaughter, — then,  I  say,  Congress  with  unblush- 
ing treason  refused  to  draft  even  eighty  per  cent 
of  strictly  war  profits,  and,  hiding  behind  the 
mask  of  patriotism,  practically  forced  the  fathers 
and  mothers  of  these  same  boys  to  buy  the  bonds 
to  finance  the  wholesale  murder.  And  it  is  a 
safe  bet  that,  if  those  with  incomes  above  five 
thousand  a  year  had  been  pushed  as  hard  for 
bond  subscriptions  as  those  with  incomes  below 
that  figure  were,  instead  of  raising  twenty  bil- 
19 


Dalleszona 

lions  we  should  have  raised  seventy  to  a  hundred 
billions.  And,  what  is  more,  the  government 
that  has  a  right  to  draft  men  has  an  equal  right 
to  draft  money,  foodstuffs,  clothing  and  muni- 
tions of  war  without  guaranteeing  payment  with 
four  per  cent  interest.  And  I'll  tell  you,  Mr. 
Highfinger,  that  just  as  long  as  money  and  prop- 
erty is  more  sacred  than  human  life,  just  so 
long  there  will  be  wars.  And  whenever  the 
United  States,  or  any  other  nation,  prepares  lor 
war,  even  under  claim  of  'Keeping  the  Peace,' 
some  other  nation  will  call  the  bluff;  and  when 
that  time  comes,  Asia's  eight  hundred  millions 
will  be  in  the  game,  and  may  the  Eternal  God 
have  mercy  on  our  souls.  Them's  my  sentiments, 
and  I  guess  you  and  I  cannot  do  any  business 
now." 

"Mr.  Saxon,  I  agree  with  you  absolutely.     I 
beg  your  pardon  for  raising  this  question,  but  I 
20 


Highfinger's  Story 

wanted  to  know  the  temper  and  spirit  of  my  man. 
Nobody  knows  better  than  we  prospectors  that 
we  have  outraged  Mexico.  We  have  violated  the 
sanctity  of  her  homes.  And  while  1  do  not  want 
that  Columbus  affair  repeated,  I  do  know  that 
the  Mexican  government  was  not  responsible  for 
it.  And  I  also  know  that  for  every  bit  of  deviltry 
inflicted  upon  Americans  in  recent  j^ears,  Mexi- 
can people  have  suffered  ten  times  as  much  at 
the  hands  of  conscienceless  white  brigands,  pro- 
motors  and  concessionaires,  who  have  gone  to 
Mexico  for  private  gain.  If  a  man  must  leave 
the  United  States  to  make  money,  let  him  carry 
his  own  insurance;  don't  ask  the  government  to 
underwrite  his  private  enterprises.  But  in  this 
case  of  mine  I  think  1  can  show  you  that  I  have 
a  full  right  to  the  hundred  thousand  I  ask  for. 
"Ten  years  ago  I  was  working  in,  Cananea 
Copper  Mines  some  months,  then  decided  to  go 
21 


Dalleszona 

to  Guymas,  and  from  there  to,  perhaps,  prospect 
some.  From  the  Mexican  government  there  1 
got  written  permission  to  prospect,  and  drove  my 
own  burro  into  the  Lastuna  Hills  and  was  doing 
some  placering, — washing  out  about  an  ounce  of 
dust  a  day.  One  evening  when  I  returned  to 
my  hogan  in  the  sagebrush,  I  found  a  wounded 
Yaki  there.  He  spoke  Spanish  well  and  English 
fairly,  so  we  had  no  trouble  understanding  each 
other.  He  told  me  he  was  related  to  Iximaga, 
Chief  of  the  Yakis,  descending  on  the  father's 
side  from  pure  Toltec.  Was  commissioned  by 
his  people  to  visit  Gov.  Cantu,  Ensenada,  Lower 
California,  to  arrange,  if  possible,  for  the  trans- 
fer of  the  peninsula  to  the  Yakis  for  permanent 
possession.  Failing  in  this,  he  had  returned  to 
Guymas,  leaving  there  for  home  by  way  of 
Hermosillo.  Had  been  set  upon  by  a  band  of 
gringo  and  peon  bandits,  beaten,  robbed,  shot  and 
22 


Highfinger's  Story 

left  to  die.  He  surely  had  the  spirit  of  a  man 
if  it  was  in  the  body  of  a  Yaki.  He  had  been 
shot  through  the  right  lung.  I  did  all  I  could 
for  him  the  week  he  lived,  and  before  he  died 
he  gave  me  this  signet  ring,  also  a  bit  of  paper 
with  a  message  in  Spanish  to  Iximaga,  which 
told  of  his  sad  experience  and  approaching  death 
and  cleared  me.  Also  he  described  carefully  the 
location  of  the  Yaki  seventh  treasure,  and  author- 
ized me  to  take  a  hundred  thousand  in  gold. 

"Well,  I  buried  him,  then  went  after  the  gold 
first,  intending  later,  if  I  really  found  the  gold, 
to  carry  this  ring  and  message  to  Iximaga  at 
Truxlan.  I  really  found  the  treasure  all  right 
and  had  about  eighty  thousand  in  dust  when,  one 
night,  three  beacons  flamed  from  nearby  hills, 
and  I  knew  I  was  discovered.  Right  there  I  fell 
down.  I  should  have  stood  my  ground,  stated 
my  case,  showed  the  ring,  and  taken  the  paper 
23 


Dalleszona 

to  headquarters;  but  I  started  to  run,  and  say, 
Saxon,  that  was  some  chase.  You  know  a  fellow 
once  starts  to  run,  there's  only  two  landings. 
One  is  freedom,  the  other  hell.  Well,  I  got 
both,  but  I  got  freedom  last.  Yessum.  Well, 
the  first  night  I  stumbled  into  a  cave  which 
proved  to  be  a  treasure  vault, — actually  tons  of 
gold  there, — boulders  of  pure  gold  as  large  as 
your  head,  slabs  of  it  as  large  as  the  floor  of 
that  tent  over  there,  and  a  foot  thick.  I  stayed 
there  the  next  day,  but  my  stock  of  tortillas  was 
small  and  water  less;  so  the  second  night  I 
crawled  out  and  headed  for  the  North  Star. 
But  somehow  those  red  bronzed  devils  scented 
my  trail,  and  for  six  days  and  nights  it  was  a 
case  of  'Monkey  and  the  weasel,'  till  I  headed 
into  Hermosillo,  less  than  a  hundred  miles  from 
the  treasure. 

"Now,  Saxon,  I  want  you  to  go  with  me  after 
24 


Highfinger's  Story 

that  hundred  thousand.  I  have  a  right  to  it,  and 
an  airship  is  the  only  way  to  get  it." 

The  old  man  had  told  the  story  with  such 
deadly  earnestness  and  tragic  humor  that  Saxon 
felt  he  had  almost  experienced  the  suffering  of 
that  perilous  flight  and  was  fully  convinced  that 
Highfinger  had  spoken  the  truth. 

That  night  they  took  the  train  for  U.  S. 
aviation  station,  North  Island,  San  Diego. 


25 


Dalleszona 

CHAPTER  II 
Magic  Mystery  Maid 

From  a  dog  tent  to  the  Grant  Hotel;  from 
flapjacks  and  jack-rabbit  stew  over  a  smudgy 
camp  fire  to  cream  biscuits  with  honey  and  roast 
turkey  and  champagne;  from  sagebrush  buttes 
and  alkali  dust  to  orange  groves,  emerald  lawns 
and  the  Harbor  of  the  Sun;  from  a  burro  train 
and  desert  silences  to  aero-squadrons  and  the 
voices  of  the  Sunset  Sea;  from  gnawing  despair 
long  endured  to  splendid  hopes  almost  realized ; 
from  sickening  failure  and  festering  defeat  to 
roaring  success  at  the  head  of  the  procession, 
as  the  band  plays  "All  hail  to  the  Chief"! 

The  ferry  was  jammed  with  hurrying  throngs, 
U.  S.  cruisers  swung  at  anchorage  in  the  oflfing, 
while  airplanes  whirred  with  magic  and  North 
26 


Magic  Mystery  Maid 

Island  trembled  under  the  "Cavalry  of  the 
Clouds." 

Saxon  met  half  a  dozen  aces  fresh  from  the 
skyline  of  Europe,  and  lived  again  those  awful 
eternities  of  chance  when  they  together  photo- 
graphed enemy  "formations,"  bombed  cities,  and 
turned  hell  loose  upon  the  German  aero-squad- 
rons from  the  forests  of  Argonne  to  the  hills  of 
Verdun. 

Meanwhile,  Highfinger  kept  close  watch  of 
the  metal  and  canvas  vultures  as  they  breasted 
the  air,  climbed  by  ever-widening  circles  to  view- 
less heights,  or  dropped  through  loops  and  nose 
spins  to  seeming  destruction. 

"Saxon,"  said  Admiral  Brooks,  "the  De  Havi- 
land  is  at  your  disposal  whenever  you  wish  to 
give  us  a  demonstration  of  battle  flight.  I  hope 
you  feel  equal  to  it,  for  the  day  is  ideal;  and 
the  boys  here  know  what  you  did  'Over  There,' 
27 


Dalleszona 

and  are  anxious  to  see  the  machine  in  the  hands 
of  a  real  veteran." 

The  machine  indicated  was  the  largest,  strong- 
est and  speediest  machine  on  the  West  Coast,  and 
had  just  been  priced  to  Highfinger  at  a  figure  he 
was  willing  to  accept. 

As  Saxon  felt  the  throb  of  her  engines  and 
took  the  breath  from  her  propeller  blades,  his 
body,  soul  and  spirit  seemed  transformed.  His 
blood  surged  in  waves,  his  nerves  became  tense 
as  drawn  steel  springs,  the  fashion  of  his  coun- 
tenance became  blood  and  flame,  while  his  galena- 
gray  eyes  became  as  molten  silver.  The  mania 
of  conflict  seized  his  soul.  Human  limitations 
vanished.  He  glowed  before  them,  an  "Immortal 
Spirit  of  Conflict,"  an  engine  of  destruction, 
without  sense  of  fear  or  power  of  retreat, — an 
unclothed,  elemental  force,  eager  to  be  hurled 
into  that  cauldron  of  death  where  Satan  flung 
28 


Magic  Mystery  Maid 

his  legions  on  and  spectre  hosts  battle  above  the 
pits  of  the  damned. 

"Highfinger,  come  on;  we  will  take  a  spin." 
Without  a  moment's  hesitation  the  old  man 
stepped  into  the  bomb  thrower's  pit.  Saxon 
pulled  the  throttle  wide  open,  threw  the  reverse 
lever  into  working  position,  carefully  released 
the  clutch,  and  with  a  tremendous  roar  they  were 
ofif,  like  an  unhooded  falcon  sure  of  its  prey. 
Straight  across  the  flying  field  toward  the  sharp 
salt  breath  of  the  landless  blue,  higher,  faster, 
an  Immelmann  turn,  but  ever  climbing, — 

"Till  the  soul  is  lost  in  wonder 
'Mid  fadeless  scenes  of  phantom  splendor," — 

into  a  mist  of  cloud  where  icy  cold  wind  whistled 

through  struts  and  ribs,  and  hail  rattled  on  wings 

and  rudder  bands,  and  streams  of  spray  sheeted 

29 


Dalleszona 

from  controller  flukes,  hales  of  rainbow  colors 
played  round  propeller  blades  and  irridescent 
lights  streamed  from  rudder  bands  in  blazing 
grandeur.  Anon,  into  sunlight  they  shot  as  into 
seas  of  flame, — up,  up,  the  mighty  motors  never 
missing  a  note, — ^six,  eight,  ten,  twelve,  thirteen 
thousand  feet.  The  city  blocks  blurred  into 
unbroken  levels,  Coronado  seemed  a  mighty 
scimetar.  North  Island  its  hilt,  while  the  Harbor 
of  the  Sun  and  the  Sunset  Sea  shone  like  a  sea 
of  glass  in  the  Revelator's  vision.  Fifteen  thou- 
sand feet  the  aneroid  registered  ere  Saxon  re- 
duced  the  fuel  and  started  in  a  nose  spin  for  ten 
thousand  feet.  Highfinger's  ears  roared  like  a 
Bessemer  blast,  and  surely  death  to  Saxon  and 
himself,  with  utter  destruction  of  the  plane  and 
all  his  plans,  seemed  only  a  matter  of  seconds; 
and  another  turn,  when  Saxon  suddenly  reversed 
the  controller  flukes,  the  plane  slanted  to  hori- 
30 


JMagic  Mystery  Maid 

zontal,  cushioned  a  few  swift  turns,  easily  took 
the  sand  and  anchored  in  front  of  the  hangar. 

"Well,  Highfinger,  how  do  you  like  it?  Do 
you  think  we  can  prospect  Culiacan,  stampede 
the  Yakis  and  bring  home  the  dust?" 

Still  white  around  the  gills,  but  game  to  the 
end,  the  old  man  laughed  back,  "Say,  Saxon,  if 
the  Jackhammer  Kid  and  Nete  Pelson  were  here, 
they'd  give  all  their  rights  in  the  Breyfogle  for 
a  spin  like  that;  and  when  they  got  through, 
they'd  be  so  intoxicated  with  pleasure,  they'd  say, 
'Thank  you,  Lady,'  and"  that  Yaki  treasure  is 
just  as  good  as  minted  now." 

A  moment  later  he  continued,  "I  have  a  pro- 
gram for  to-morrow,  but  after  that  you  can 
arrange  for  all  entertainments  where  the  De 
Haviland  is  concerned." 

The   following  morning   Saxon   looked   across 


31 


Dalleszona 

the  breakfast  table  and  said,  "What's  your  pro- 
gram for  to-day,  old  higrader?" 

"Well,  if  it's  all  the  same  to  you,  I'd  like  to 
go  up  in  the  hills  above  De  Luz  and  pick  up  a 
few  carats  of  white  obsidian,  or,  as  commonly 
known,  California  diamonds;  then  joy  ride  over 
El  Cajon,  the  Cuyamacas,  Warner's  Hot  Springs, 
Temecula,  Lake  Elsinore  and  on  to  Riverside 
aviation  field.  So  much  for  the  going.  For  the 
return — well,  I'll  tell  you  about  that  later," 

The  glories  of  that  perfect  day  were  a  never- 
to-be-forgotten  joy  to  both  of  these  men. 

To  Saxon,  fresh  from  the  slaughter  plains  of 
Europe,  where  pestilence  walked  in  darkness  and 
destruction  wasted  at  noonday,  when  hell  swept 
through  happy  homes  and  devastation  cycloned 
cities  and  towns ;  where  famine  and  flame 
scourged  farm  and  vineyard,  and  forests  became 
cemeteries  for  windrows  of  slain,  the  orchards 
32 


Magic  Mystery  Maid 

of  the  "Sunkist  Vale,"  San  Pasqual,  Poway  and 
El  Cajon  were  "Fair  as  a  garden  of  the  Lord." 
To  Highfinger,  after  wearying  years  upon  desert 
wash  of  sand  and  sage,  the  pine  clad  hills  and 
oak  dotted  vales  of  the  Cuyamacas  brought  sweet 
remembrance  of  boyhood  days,  when  he  had 
roamed  the  picturesque  solitudes  of  the  "Blue 
Ridge"  ere  the  blight  of  sin  had  ruined  his  life 
or  the  curse  of  crime  had  blasted  hope. 

Leisurely  they  loafed  above  the  Carlsbad  of 
the  Pacific,  Temecula  (the  Dream  of  Paradise), 
Lake  Elsinore  (Mighty  Basin  of  Liquid  Indigo) 
set  in  empurpled  mountains.  Riverside's  magnolia 
lanes  and  orange  groves,  and  on  to  March  avia- 
tion field,  where  a  hundred  artificial  eagles 
flashed  their  white  wings  through  fleecy  films  of 
cloud  or  roared  their  way  o'er  rugged  buttes  to 
Gorgoni's  snow  clad  heights.  Returning  like  an 
unleashed  spirit,  the  De  Haviland  soared  above 
33 


Dalleszona 

the  San  Jacinto,  earthquaked  and  thunder  riven, 
standing  guard  above  the  famished  beaches  of  a 
wasted  sea,  then  back  to  North  Island,  when 
purple  twilight  settled  over  the  Harbor  of  the 
Sun  and  the  afterglow  flamed  its  magic  glory 
across  the  sunset  sea. 

On  the  morrow  mechanics  were  busy  with  the 
giant  De  Haviland.  Her  pulse  was  tested,  her 
motors  tuned,  oil  and  gas  tanks  enlarged  to 
capacity  for  two  thousand  miles,  lockers  for 
supplies,  water  tanks  and  secret  chambers  for 
treasure  chests  supplied,  until  Highfinger  was 
delighted  and  Saxon  knew  possible  emergencies 
were  provided  for. 

One  glorious  morning,  when  a  sapphire  sky 
domed  high  above  the  Harbor  of  the  Sun  and 
golden  sunshine  fell  in  caressing  waves  over  land 
and  sea,  and  hills  and  valleys  were  garmented  in 
robes  fit  for  the  ascension  morning,  while  North 
34 


Magic  iMyslery  Maid 

Island  pulsed  to  the  rhj'thm  of  mighty  motors 
and  contending  tides  boomed  and  thundered  spray 
;uul  spume  along  the  white  sands  of  Coronado, 
the  giant  De  Haviland  left  her  hangars  for  the 
uncharted  realms,  cushioned  against  the  western 
breeze,  circled,  looped,  climbed,  shook  the  salt 
(lewdrops  from  her  shining  flanks,  and  headed, 
straight  as  a  beam  of  light,  [or  the  "Lands  of 
Unclouded   Day." 

Above  the  Cuyamacas,  beyond  the  salton  sea, 
across  the  mighty  Hood  of  the  Western  Nile. 
over  the  changeless  but  ever-changing  desert 
wastes, — on  aiid  on  with  unwearied  wings  to  the 
drifting  sands  of  a  dry  lake  on  the  outskirts  of 
a  borderland  city,  where  the  Jackhammer  Kid 
and  scores  of  other  empire  builders  had  gathered 
to  see  Highfinger's  new  prospecting  outfit. 

"^Vell,  Higliflnger,  old  scout,  you  surely  put 
one  over  on  us  this  time,  and  the  drinks  would 
35 


Daneszo7ia 

certainly  be  on  us ;  but,  since  this  infernal  country 
went  'dry,'  we  cannot  cultivate  a  thirst.  But 
say,  old  timer,  what  are  you  goin'  to  call  the 
Girl?  'Flivver'  nor  'Tin  Lizzie'  won't  do  at  all, 
at  all;  but  she  must  have  a  name,  and  you'll  just 
have  to  tell  us  which  way  lies  your  'Land  o' 
Dreams.'     Old  boy,  we  must  know  that." 

Then  the  balloting  for  a  name  began. 

Cleopatra,  Cactus  Queen,  Quo  Vadis,  Pioneer 
Princess,  Sweetheart,  Honey  Bunch,  etc.,  the  list 
was  long,  and  each  had  enthusiastic  supporters; 
but  it  was  the  Kid  that  settled  the  question. 

"Boys,"  said  he,  "I  had  a  vision  last  night. 
Yes,  I  did.  You  know  when  drinks  were  plenty, 
I  could  have  a  vision  any  old  time ;  now  they  are 
scarce  and  come  high ;  but  I  put  one  through  last 
night  and  can  tell  you  all  about  this  'Squeeze' 
and  the  port  she's  headed  for. 


86 


Magic  Mystery  Maid 

"Highfinger  will  sail  on  the  Winds  of  Anj-- 
where,  for  the  Islands  of  Somewhere,  in  the 
Seas  of  Everywhere,  after  the  Gold  of  Nowhere, 
and  I  christen  this  bird  'The  Magic  Mystery 
Maid,'  and  we  will  paint  three  'M's  on  her 
beak  and  wings." 

When  pressed  for  date  of  sailing,  Highfinger 
said : — 

"Birds,  beasts  and  men  are  guided  by  invisible 
but  eternal  programs.  In  animals  we  call  ft 
instinct;  in  men,  judgment;  in  women,  intuition. 
The  gambler  calls  it  luck;  the  poet,  inspiration; 
the  preacher  calls  it  vision  or  revelation.  The 
gypsies  have  visions,  and  we  prospectors  call  it 
a  'hunch.'  Likewise  every  successful  prospector 
follows  the  leadings  of  four  signs.  The  Kid  here 
can  tell  you  of  three  of  them  after  I  am  gone. 
I'll   tell   you   of   the    fourth   now.     Once   every 


37 


Dalleszo/ia 

year,  generally  between  the  vernal  equinox  and 
summer  solstice,  the  Aztec  moon  fulls  at  almost 
blood  red  and  shows  the  face  of  the  Toltec  Queen 
smiling.  1  think  the  moon  fulls  to-night,  and  if 
the  lady's  face  is  there,  we  will  sail  to-morrow." 
When  the  morning  sun  shot  jewelled  flame 
across  the  Elephant  Butte  Dam  and  waked  magic 
mirage  across  the  wide-flung  sagebrush  swamps 
of  Sonora,  even  unto  the  gates  of  Culiacan,  the 
Mystery  Maid  circled  far  and  high,  then  dropped 
low  above  the  watching  boys.  Ilighfinger  leaned 
far  o\'er  the  side,  waving  a  fond  good-by,  and 
a  moment  later  a  crumpled  paper  fell  at  the  feet 
of  the  Jackhammer  Kid.  Straightening  it  out, 
\vith  a  mist  of  tears  before  his  eyes,  the  Kid  read 
the  old  prospector's  message,  Byron's  immortal 
line  to  his  wife, — "Fare  you  well,  and  if  forever, 
forever  fare  you  well."     As  he  read,  a  chill  fell 


38 


Magic  Mystery  Maid 

upon  the  hearts  of  the  boys,  which  the  desert  sun 
had  no  power  to  dispel. 

Ah,  those  desert  friendships!  Together  thry 
had  slept  on  the  hot  sands,  under  velvet  skies  and 
twinkling  stars,  and  exchanged  dreams  of  happy 
days  gone  by  and  happier  dreams  of  days  to  come. 
They  had  drunk  from  the  same  canteen  the  few 
last  hot  drops  of  alkali  water,  then  tramped 
through  the  shimmering  heat  of  sage  and  sun-baked 
wash  in  search  of  water,  until  thirst  wasted  their 
bodies,  heat  madness  crazed  their  brains,  and 
their  tongues  protruded  from  cracked  and  bleed- 
ing lips.  They  had  snuggled  together  in  frozen 
canyons  when  wood  was  scarce,  grub  run  low, 
the  vein  "pinched"  and  values  disappeared ;  when 
hope  changed  to  despair;  when  laughter  became 
groans  and  wishes  turned  to  curses,  and  hell  and 
starvation  was  the  next  camping  place. 

Meanwhile,  they  watched  the  climbing  Maid 
39 


Dalleszona 

now  circling  wide  and  high  till  she  disappeared 
in  the  shoreless  blue,  and  wondered  if  Highfinger 
and  Saxon  would  sail  if  they  knew,  now,  all  that 
lay  within  that  "Shadow  Land  of  Dreams." 


40 


Highfinger's  Last  Journey 


CHAPTER  III 

Highfinger's  Last  Journey 

Over  sand  and  sage,  butte  and  barancho,  moor 
and  mesa,  the  Mystery  Maid  held  steadily  on 
until  Hermosillo,  a  white  checker  board  in  the 
shimmering  heat,  was  passed,  then  swerved  sharp- 
ly to  the  southeast,  sailing  on  and  on  through 
amber  sunshine  o'er  the  Lastuna  Hills  to  the  very 
base  of  Castile  Leon,  beyond  which  lay  the  fertile 
vales  and  pasture  mesas  of  the  Yakis,  outstretch- 
ing toward  the  shadowy  outlines  of  the  Mexican 
Cordilleras. 

To  the  north  and  west  of  Castile  Leon,  snug- 
gled close  beneath  his  giant  shoulders,  lies  a  small 
but  picturesque  valley,  guarded  by  small  but 
sharp  toothed  buttes.  Buried  by  the  Creator's 
hands,  here  lies'  the  seventh  treasure  of  the  Yakis. 
41 


Dalleszona 

Far  up  the  rugged  heights  of  Castile  Leon 
lies  a  mighty  basin,  walled  in  by  almost  im- 
penetrable thickets  of  chaparral  and  manzanite. 
Here  the  Mystery  Maid  came  safely  to  anchor, 
well  protected  from  storm  or  wind,  and  perfectly 
screened  from  human  sight,  except  from  a  tre- 
mendous lava  flow  far  up  towards  the  mountain's 
summit.  Close  to  where  the  Maid  landed,  rose 
a  perpendicular  cliff,  from  whose  base  gushed  a 
splendid  spring.  Here  the  weary  argonauts 
pitched  their  tent  and  rested  in  the  fragrant 
shadows  till  purple  twilight  charmed  a  world  to 
slumber  and  these  happy  exiles  rolled  themselves 
in  blankets  by  the  light  of  a  languorous  moon 
and  blazing  stars,  and  dreamed  of  golden  fortune 
and  fond  hopes  realized. 

Next  day  they  explored  the  generous  park,  but 
ventured   not   beyond,    keeping  close   watch   the 


42 


Highfingcr's  Last  Journey 

while  for  human  being  or  sign  thereof,  and  find- 
ing none. 

The  second  morning,  with  picks,  shovels  and 
well  filled  canteens,  they  set  off  for  the  treasure 
lands  far  below.  Through  thorny  thickets  and 
rugged  gulches,  over  ridges,  spurs  and  lava  slides 
infested  with  vicious  sidewinders,  they  cheered 
each  other  on,  till  at  last  they  stood  exactly  where 
Highfinger  stood  ten  years  before  and  fled  in  hot 
haste  and  terrors  of  hell  from  the  pursuing  Yakis. 

Six  days  they  toiled,  from  early  dawn  clearing 
shallow  sands  and  gathering  shining  nuggets  from 
potholes  and  crevices  of  bedrock,  returning  each 
twilight  hour  to  the  Mystery  Maid  with  bags 
of  gold,  until  by  actual  weight  they  had  more 
than  ninety  thousand  dollars  safe  within  the  De 
Haviland's  secret  lockers. 

The  seventh  and  last  day  Highfinger  led  the 
way  by  a  different  route,  hoping  to  rediscover  the 
43 


Dalleszona 

gold-lined  cave  where   he  had  hidden   from  his 
pursuers. 

More  than  half  the  day  they  searched  the 
mountain  side  before  they  were  rewarded.  Once 
they  had  found  the  matchless  treasure,  every 
other  consideration  was  forgotten,  and  they  gave 
themselves  to  explore  chambers,  drifts,  corridors 
and  stopes,  until  at  length  they  came  upon  a  fast 
flowing  stream  that  leaped  into  a  mighty  chasm 
and  plunged  vuith  thunder  roar  into  an  under- 
ground lake.  P'ollowing  the  stream  some  distance, 
they  emerged  into  a  spacious  chamber  or  resting 
station,  and  stumbled  onto  the  mummies  of 
several  ancient  miners,  surrounded  with  tools  of 
hardened  copper,  and  realized  they  were  in  the 
much  sought,  long  lost  Aztec  mine  whence  came 
the  gold  that  had  adorned  the  temples  of  the 
Montezumas  and  enriched  the  Spanish  galleons 
of  Cortez. 

44 


Highfingers  Last  Journey 

Sight  of  these  ghastly  human  forms,  shrivelled 
by  blasting  heat  or  deadly  gas,  or  whatever  form 
of  sudden  death,  so  thoroughly  surprised  and 
unnerved  these  reckless  buccaneers,  they  fled  in 
haste  from  the  chamber  of  horrors,  nor  slackened 
their  pace  until,  safe  outside  the  gold  lined  moun- 
tain, they  breathed  the  sweet  air  of  heaven,  felt 
the  warmth  of  blessed  sunshine,  and  thanked  God 
for  life  and  strength  and  other  almost  forgotten 
blessings,  and  realized  there  are  some  things  more 
to  be  desired  than  much  coarse  gold. 

In  the  chemistry  of  life  the  reaction  of  a  soul 
sometimes  makes  speech  imperative  and  com- 
panionship the  only  preventative  of  utter  insanity. 

The  younger  man  broke  the  silence  with  a 
question  that  was  characteristic  of  Western 
frankness  in  general  and  a  prospector's  straight- 
forwardness in  particular. 

"Well,  Highfinger,  what  do  you  think  of  the 
45 


Dalleszona 

prospect?  Is  it  a  real  strike,  or  are  we  deceiving 
ourselves?  Do  you  suppose  we'll  be  as  good 
looking  skates  as  those  fellows  when  we've  been 
dead  a  thousand  years  more  or  less?" 

"Saxon,  did  you  notice  that  big  fellow  with 
the  large  eyes  over  to  the  left  there?" 

"Well,  didn't  I?" 

"The  expression  on  his  face  was  living  death. 
If  hell  is  any  worse  than  that,  I  don't  want  to 
be  introduced, — wouldn't  recognize  it  on  the 
street.  He  must  have  committed  some  crime,  for 
he  had  the  look  a  criminal  surely  must  have  when 
suddenly  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the  Ever- 
living  God.  His  face  was  guilt,  regret  and  re- 
morse wrought  into  immortality.  And  that  little 
weazel-faced  shrimp  sitting  on  that  slab  of  gold, 
I'll  bet  he  was  a  spy,  detective,  plain-clothes  man 
— deceit,  fraud,  cunning,  petrified.  He  sure 
looked  the  part." 

46 


Highfingcr's  Last  Journey 

The  afternoon  shadows  were  growing  long 
before  they  reached  the  "diggins" ;  but  an  un- 
usually rich  pothole  produced  all  and  more  tlian 
was  needed  to  complete  the  hundred  thovisanti, 
and  the  setting  sun  saw  them  ready  for  the  return 
to  the  Mystery  Maid ;  but  the  climb  would  be 
long,  the  night  dark,  and  they  decided  to  wait 
imtil  morning. 

Wrapped  in  their  blankets,  they  watched  the 
afterglow  fade  into  a  perfect  night.  The  mar- 
velous charm  of  the  twilight  liour  threw  its  name- 
less spell  over  heart  and  memory  till  the  stars 
came  out  and  God's  own  holy  night  silences  filled 
the  interminable  spaces  and  waslicd  out  all  grime 
and  dust  from  a  soul's  desires.  'Twas  such  an 
hour  as  brings  to  the  surface  the  best  of  character 
and  conscience,  plan  and  purpose,  thought  and 
will,  and  sets  friends  to  talking  of  things  worth 
while. 

47 


Dalleszona 

The  old  man  had  been  talking  of  mother  and 
childhood  days,  and  ended  by  saying: — 

"This  idea  that  childhood  days  are  our  very 
best  days  is  all  foolishness  and  ought  to  be  dis- 
carded. Children  have  just  as  many  troubles  and 
griefs  to  the  cubic  inch  as  grown-ups  have.  All 
the  difference  is,  their  difficulties  are  shorter- 
lived,  also  they  have  sense  enough  to  run  away 
from  them  sooner.  The  last  days  will  be  the 
best  days  for  every  human  being,  who  lives  right, 
thinks  right  and  acts  right.  I  have  been  a  careful 
student  of  human  nature  for  fifty  years.  I  know 
the  prosperity  of  wealth  and  the  prosperity  of 
poverty.  I  have  tasted  the  adversity  of  wealth 
and  the  adversity  of  poverty.  There  are  two 
eternal,  unchanging  laws  that  work  in  and  for 
every  human  being, — 'Compensation  and  Retri- 
bution.' Sometime,  somewhere,  some  way,  in  this 
world,  retribution  will  overtake  the  man  whose 
48 


Highfinger's  Last  Journey 

plan  and  purpose  and  deeds  are  evil.  The  wages 
of  wrongdoing  is  death,  and  must,  absolutely 
must,  separate  from  happiness  here  and  now  as 
well  as  in  eternity.  Compensation  will  come  to 
every  one  whose  plan,  purpose  and  deeds  arc 
right.  Life,  sweet,  refreshing,  glorious,  filled 
utterly  full  of  joy,  is  the  fruitage  of  years  for 
every  man's  best  effort.  And  God  has  given  to 
every  man  to  know  when  he  has  done  his  best. 
By  this  I  do  not  mean  that  any  life  shall  be 
free  from  mistakes,  because  judgment  based  on 
brains  is  full  of  error.  But  judgment  based  on 
motive  is  mighty  near  infallible.  The  Great 
Galilean  pronounced  a  blessing  for  those  who 
hunger  and  thirst  for  the  right,  and  promised 
they  should  be  fed.  The  fateful  thing  in  the 
theory  of  fatalism  is  that  wrongdoing  does  bring 
its  own  punishment.  Insanity  of  heart  is  infinitely 
worse  than  insanity  of  head. 
49 


Dalleszona 

"I  promised  you  one  day  that  I  would  tell  yovi 
how  I  lost  the  fingers  of  this  hand,  and  I  guess 
to-night  is  as  good  a  time  as  will  ever — 

"Ghost  of  Flanders!  Soul  of  Satan!  What's 
that?" 

Both  men  sprang  to  their  feet  as  a  tongue  of 
Hame  shot  up  from  a  rocky  spur  on  the  opposite 
slope,  quickly  follo\red  by  a  second.  Then  both 
as  quickly  died,  and  only  darkness  reigned. 

"Highfinger,  u'hat  does  that  mean?" 

"Well,  I  guess  it's  the  Yakis  all  right,  and 
the  headlight  of  hell  for  iis.  Just  wait  a  few 
minutes.  If  it  is  the  Yakis,  the  summit  of  that 
sharp  peak  will  tlame  shortly.  Look,  there  it 
comes  now!"  And  the  flatnes  rose  twenty  feet 
high,  even  as  he  spoke. 

"Well,  my  boy,  it's  the  same  thing  that  hap- 
pened ten  years  ago ;  but  I  didn't  have  an  aero- 
plane then,  and  I  sorter  think  we'll  go  over  the 
50 


litghlingcr  s  Lcist  Juuriicy 

top  with  the  Mystery  Maid  this  time.  It  must 
be  close  to  midnight  now,  and  we  will  just  keep 
quiet  till  the  moon  comes  up  about  two,  then 
we'll  make  the  climb  to  the  De  Haviland  and 
set  her  motors  humming.  1  guess  they'll  have 
some  run  for  their  gold,  once  we  get  the  Maid 
warmed  up." 

When  the  sun  hurled  his  chariots  of  Hame 
across  the  hills  of  Angustura,  and  bathed  the 
summits  of  Castile  Leon  with  crimson  glory, 
Saxon  and  Highfinger  slipju-d  through  the  man- 
zanite  wall  into  the  little  park  where  the  Maid 
reclined. 

Quickly  dropping  their  bags  of  gold  into  the 
pilot  pit,  Saxon  laid  his  hand  on  the  throttle, 
A\hile  more  than  fifty  \\'arriors  rose  from  the 
very  shadows  of  her  wings. 

With  an  oath  Highfinger  pulled  his  automatic, 


51 


Dalleszona 

but  Saxon  knocked  his  hand  upward  and  the  shot 
went  wild  far  up  the  mountain. 

"None  of  that,  Old  Timer.  I  told  you,  when 
I  agreed  to  come  with  you,  there  must  be  no 
bloodshed.  I  saw  too  much  of  that  in  Europe. 
I'll  not  stand  for  any  of  it  here.  Maybe  wt 
can  talk  to  these  people, — show  them  that  ring 
and  paper,  and,  if  necessary,  go  with  them  to  the 
council  chambers  of  the  Iximaga.  But  we  will 
go  with  hands  unstained  by  human  blood.  You 
said  you  wanted  to  start  a  revolution  in  Mexico, 
and  I  guess  now  is  the  time  to  start  one  of  the 
bloodless  brand." 

Saxon  stepped  out  of  the  machine,  faced  the 
Yaki  leader  and  gave  the  Indian  universal  sign 
of  friendship.  Instantly  every  warrior  responded 
with  hands  uplifted  high,  and  in  faultless  Eng- 
lish the  leader  spoke. 

"Brothers  from  the  Northland,  from  whence 
52 


High  finger's  Last  Journey 

our  fathers  came  to  till  the  fertile  soil  that 
slopes  down  to  the  friendly  shores  of  the  Aztec 
Sea,  we  have  a  tradition  from  our  fathers  that 
sometime  the  House  of  Iximaga  will  be  given  a 
leader  who  will  show  how  our  treasures  of  gold 
may  be  used  for  the  good  of  all  mankind.  Until 
that  leader  comes  we  must  guard  them  well. 
When,  seven  days  agone,  we  saw  the  white 
wings  of  this  wondrous  falcon  bring  you  here, 
we  trusted  you  might  be  our  messengers  of  hope 
and  truth  and  love.  Tell  us  now  by  what  right 
you  attempt  to  carry  off  our  gold?  The  ring 
we  know.  It  is  from  our  prince,  and  we  will 
honor  his  long-delayed  message.  Come  with  us 
to  the  leaders  of  our  people,  the  hogans  of  our 
aged  Iximaga  of  Truxlan,  and  whatever  is  right 
and  fair  between  man  and  man  we  will  do." 

"Highfinger,  what  do  you  say  to  that  program? 
What  will  you  do?" 

53 


Dalleszona 

"Well,  I'm  civilized.  I'd  go  the  way  and  do 
the  things  that  civilization  has  done  for  a  thou- 
sand years.  I'd  take  some  of  that  T.  N.  T.  and 
blow  these  bronze  beauties  into  the  happy  hunting 
grounds  and  let  them  go  on  with  their  hunt, 
and  I'd  head  the  Mystery  Maid  for  good  old 
U.  S.  A.  The  'Force  of  Fight'  is  my  way, — the 
way  of  all  brains.  But  maybe  the  'Force  of 
Fairness'  is  better, — the  way  of  hearts.  I'll  go 
with  you  wherever  the  Yakis  lead,  even  unto 
the  hogans  of  Iximaga.  Let  us  hit  the  trail. 
But  I  don't  want  any  snapshots  of  Highfinger 
eating  out  of  the  hands  of  a  Yaki." 

Tullan  singled  out  ten  of  the  younger  warriors, 
saying:  "We  will  go  by  way  of  Hermosillo  and 
the  Valley  of  the  Oleanders.  These  others  will 
go  by  the  shorter  but  rougher  trail  of  Castile 
Leon,  and  prepare  the  way  for  our  coming,  so 
there  may  be  no  delay  when  we  arrive." 
54 


High  finger's  Last  Journey 

When  the  sun  hung  low  above  the  western  sea, 
Tullan  brought  his  band  to  a  crj'stal  spring 
where  fragrance  of  balsam  and  juniper  freighted 
the  air  and  luscious  berries  ripened  'neath  giant 
ferns. 

Highfinger's  slumber  was  troubled  with 
dreams,  and  several  times  Saxon  caught  one 
word, — half  spoken,  half-breathed, — "Bessie." 

By  noontide  the  next  day  they  dropped  a  thou- 
sand feet  through  chaparral  and  manzanite  to  a 
small  stream  in  a  narrow  valley,  and  camped 
for  the  night  by  a  white  gravel-bottomed  pool 
and  refreshed  their  weary  bodies  with  a  plunge 
in  the  healing  waters.  After  a  supper  of  dried 
fruits,  roasted  grains,  nuts  and  honey,  Highfinger 
and  Saxon  sat  on  slabs  of  onyx  and  alabaster, 
dipping  their  feet  in  the  laughing  stream,  while 
Highfinger  told  his  life  story. 

"My  real  name  is  Ben  Carson.  I  was  born 
55 


Dalleszona 

in  old  Virginny,  far  up  on  the  head  waters  of  the 
James  River,  not  far  from  Clifton  Forge.  My 
father  was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  and  my  particular 
boyhood  chum,  Spot  Black,  was  the  son  of  a 
banker  in  Glen  Wilton.  Spot  was  three  years 
older  than  I,  and  most  of  the  time  was  a  royal 
good  fellow,  but  had  moods  or  seasons  every  year 
when  he  seemed  possessed  by  the  very  devil  of 
mischief  that  finally  developed  into  viciousness. 
The  fascination  of  his  deviltry  and  daring  smoth- 
ered conscience,  paralyzed  will,  and  held  me  his 
chum  even  after  my  mother  and  my  own  judg- 
ment warned  me  of  disaster.  When  I  was  eigh- 
teen, Spot  went  to  Richmond,  and  I  courted 
Bessie  Conway,  a  beautiful,  orphaned  girl  who 
clerked  in  Wilton's  general  store.  I  loved  Bessie 
more  than  everything  else  in  all  the  world,  except 
myself,  and  she  promised  to  be  my  wife.  Mean- 
while Spot  wrote  daily  letters  of  such  easy  money 
56 


Highfingcr's  Lost  Journey 

and  furious  fun  to  be  had  in  Richmond  that  1 
decided  on  a  short  visit  with  him,  secretly  in- 
tending to  remain  there  if  easy  money  could  come 
my  way.  Spot  feasted  me  at  high-toned  res- 
taurants with  wines  and  champagne,  and  took  me 
to  luxurious  rooms  which  I  soon  discovered  was 
a  part  of  the  'Scarlet  Way,'  and  that  Spot  was 
its  patron  devil  and  ruling  spirit.  In  a  week  I 
was  ruined,  body,  soul  and  spirit,  racketing  down 
the  hot  pavements  to  the  hell  of  a  diseased  body 
and  corrupt  mind.  Returning  to  Glen  Wilton, 
Bessie  and  I  were  soon  married,  my  father  gave 
us  a  beautiful  cottage  for  a  wedding  present,  I 
had  a  good  position,  and  we  had  almost  two 
years  of  heaven.  Then  our  baby  was  born, 
blotched  with  disease  and  totally  blind.  A  merci- 
ful God  spared  Bessie  from  infection.  Baby  died, 
and  we  buried  the  little  body  in  the  old  church- 
yard at  Glen  Wilton.  The  day  after  the  funeral 
57 


DallciZ(j!i(L 

I  came  home  to  luncheon  a  few  minutes  late. 
Bessie,  more  beautiful  than  ever  before,  wore  a 
dress  that  belonged  to  her  courtship  days.  The 
bells  of  doom  seemed  sounding  in  my  soul,  and 
somehow  I  knew  the  gates  of  living  death  and 
deathless  hell  were  wide  open  for  me  and  I  must 
go  in. 

"After  lunch,  during  which  scarcely  a  word 
was  spoken,  Bessie  lifted  her  wondrous  ej^es  to 
mine  across  the  table,  and,  with  infinite  tenderness 
in  her  voice,  she  said:  'Mr.  Carson,  I  have  ac- 
cepted my  old  place  at  the  store  and  am  going 
to  work  there  to-morrow.  My  trunk,  with  all 
that   is   mine,    I   have  sent   to   my  old    room   at 

Mrs.  ,  where  you  courted  me.     Clothes  and 

keepsakes  you  gave  me  you  will  find  in  j'our 
bedroom.  I'm  sure  you  will  find  all  of  them 
there.  I  dare  not  trust  my  soul  and  will  not 
give  my  body  to  a  man  who  outrages  every 
58 


Ilighfingcr's  Last  Journey 

attribute  of  womanhood  and  worse  than  murders 
his  own  child  before  it  is  born.  I  have  filed 
divorce  proceedings  with  the  Ever-living  (jfod. 
When  Judgment  Day  arrives  and  your  case  is 
called,  I  will  meet  j'ou  in  His  eternal  Judgment 
Hall  and  plead  my  own  case,  UiUil  then  we  are 
strangers." 

That  afternoon  I  sold  the  cottage  and  deposited 
the    money    in    the    bank    in    her    name.       That 

evening  I   walked  past   I\Irs.  's  home,   and 

through  the  window  saw  Bessie  there,  busy  with 
some  fancy  work  as  in  the  olden  days  \\'hen  she 
awaited  my  coming.  Then  I  took  the  night  train 
for  Richmond,  intending  to  kill  Spot.  Together 
the  next  evening  we  drove  out  to  a  lonely  road, 
and  under  the  shadows  of  great  trees  I  pulled 
my  gun ;  but  the  cap  snapped,  and  Spot  knocked 
me  down  with  his  own  gun,  bit  off  three  fingers 
from  my  hand,  beat  me  to  insensibility,  and  left 
59 


Dalleszona 

me  to  bleed  to  death,  A  passing  stranger  took 
me  to  a  hospital,  where  for  weeks  I  raved  in 
delirium.  Meanwhile  Spot  disappeared.  Dis- 
missed from  the  hospital,  I  went  to  Leadville, 
Colorado,  hoping  to  find  him  in  the  haunts  of 
crime  and  sin  there,  but  was  disappointed.  Then 
I  turned  to  mining,  and  have  chased  the  phantom 
of  fortune  ever  since.  Three  years  ago  I  returned 
to  Glen  Wilton  for  some  days,  and  found  Spot 
had  been  there  much  of  the  time,  but  had  left 
a  few  days  before  I  came,  and  I  could  get  no 
trace  of  where  he  had  gone. 

"Bessie  was  still  there,  a  trained  nurse,  loved 
and  honored  above  any  other  woman  in  Glen 
Wilton,  still  vigorous  and  wondrously  beautiful. 
I  saw  her  often  and  tried  to  count  the  measure 
of  happiness  I  might  have  had  set  over  against 
the  cup  of  Damnation  my  sin  had  pressed  to  my 
lips  for  more  than  thirty  years.  No  one  else 
60 


Highfinger's  Last  Journey 

ever  recognized  me,  and,  if  she  ever  guessed  who 
I  \\"as,  she  gave  no  sign,  and  1  came  as  I  went, 
a  stranger  and  an  outlaw  in  the  land  of  my 
birth.  So  much  for  the  past.  Now  for  the 
future. 

"Last  night  my  sleep  was  troubled.  I  had  a 
hunch  that  my  time  has  come.  I  wanted  the 
hundred  thousand  for  two  reasons.  First,  I  want 
to  deposit  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  Glen  Wilton 
bank  for  Bessie,  to  insure  comfort  for  her  last 
days.  With  the  other  fifty  thousand  I  have 
planned  to  search  for  Spot.  If  I  live,  I'll  surely 
find  him.  And,  when  I  do,  all  the  miseries  and 
sorrows  and  punishments  of  hell  will  be  delightful 
pleasure  compared  with  the  grief  and  calamity 
I'll  make  him  heir  to.  If  something  does  happen 
to  me  to-morrow,  as  I  believe,  and  these  Yakis 
ever  do  let  you  go,  the  Mystery  Maid  and  fifty 


61 


Dalleszona 

thousand  are  yours;  but  you  must  attend  to  the 
fifty  thousand  for  Bessie  first." 

Next  day  noon  found  them  camped  in  a  grassy 
glen  in  the  shadows  of  giant  cliffs,  where  the 
Hermosillo  road  crosses  the  little  stream. 

While  they  rested  and  talked  in  Nature's  pic- 
turesque parlors,  a  woman's  voice  crying  "Ixi- 
maga!  Iximaga!"  pierced  the  air,  and  a  fusillade 
of  shots  rattled  beyond  the  turn  of  the  road. 
A  few  moments  later  an  Indian  pony  with  gold- 
mounted  saddle  and  bridle  dashed  across  the 
stream.  Tullan  caught  the  flying  mustang, 
snatched  a  woman's  garment  streaming  from  the 
pommel,  examined  it  for  an  instant,  and  shouted : 
"The  Princess  Iximaga!  For  the  Love  of  God, 
Americanos,  help!" 

Saxon  and  Highfinger  led  the  band  around  the 
jagged  rocks,  where,  huddled  against  a  mighty 
boulder,  were  three  women,  while  half  a  dozen 
62 


Highfinycr's  Last  Jounicy 

Vakis  battled  fiercely  with  twice  as  many  Mexi- 
cans, led  by  two  white-skinned  outlaws,  one  of 
\\"hom  wore  a  mask. 

"Ben  Carson,  your  hour  has  come,"  shouted 
the  masked  bandit  as  he  hurled  himself  with 
terrific  force  upon  Highfinger.  The  desperate 
attack  sent  Highfinger  reeling  backwards,  but  he 
parried  the  Hashing  blade  and  countered  by  a 
downward  thrust  that  cut  the  outlaw's  left  ear 
entirely  off,  and  left  a  crimson  streak  far  down 
his  breast.  At  the  same  time,  with  the  long 
bony  finger  of  his  left  hand,  Highfinger  pulled 
the  bandit's  mask  away,  revealing  the  murderous 
face  of  Spot  Black,  livid  with  insane  rage. 

"Hurrah  for  Hell!  Spot,  you're  almost  there," 
shouted  Highfinger,  as  his  blade  gouged  Spot's 
left  eye  out  and  sliced  his  nose  and  lips  away. 
Spot's  shirt  was  ripped  to  shreds,  his  long  hair 
clotted  with  blood,  his  left  arm  sheared  to  the 
63 


Dalleszojia 

bone,  still  he  lunged,  desperately,  blindly,  on, 
till  a  terrific  downward  blow  plunged  High- 
finger's  blade  into  his  heart.  As  he  fell  forward 
in  death,  his  knife  severed  Highfinger's  jugular 
vein  and  sent  him  fiercely  to  the  ground. 

Saxon  lifted  the  old  man's  limp  form  and 
carried  it  to  the  stream.  As  he  bathed  the  ashen 
face,  consciousness  returned  for  a  few  moments, 
a  ghastly  smile  played  around  the  bloodless  lips 
as  he  whispered,  "We  only  need  the  fifty  thou- 
sand for  Bessie  now,  for  I  have  a  hunch  Spot 
has  met  with  a  fatal  accident." 

Then,  without  sound  of  wings  or  footfall,  the 
old  man  slipped  into  the  long  trail  whose  far- 
flung  heights  await  us  all. 


64 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

CHAPTER  IV 
The  Road  to  Truxlan 

When  the  morrow's  sun  flashed  life  and  new- 
born hopes  across  a  hemisphere  and  settled  a  mist 
of  gold  all  o'er  Lastuna's  hills,  Saxon  laid  a 
wreath  of  that  sweetest  of  all  flowers,  the  desert 
rose,  upon  the  new-made  grave  beneath  the 
oleanders,  and  with  his  hunting  knife  etched  the 
old  man's  initials  upon  the  granite  cliff,  then 
standing,  with  face  uplifted,  in  quiet  strength 
listened  to  the  voice  of  the  little  stream  as  it 
dropped  over  a  boulder  reef,  dimly  wondering 
the  while  what  the  day  would  bring  and  how 
his  strange  adventure  should  end,  now  his  old 
friend  gone  and  he  must  face  the  Yaki  chieftain 
alone. 

Suddenly  a  burst  of  wondrous  music  filled  the 
65 


Dalleszonn 

glen, — such  music  as  comes  once  to  every  man's 
heart  and  sets  his  blood  in  waves  pounding  to 
the  very  finger  tips;  such  music  as  thrills  the 
very  mystery  of  Heaven  through  his  soul  and 
beckons  his  spirit  to  enchanted  realms.  A  woman's 
voice,  clear,  svv^eet,  vibrant  with  overtones  of 
gladness,  led  the  sunrise  song  of  the  Yakis ;  and 
Saxon  forgot  he  was  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land 
as  he  listened  to  that  deep,  full-throated  song 
thrilling  with  exultant  joy. 

As  the  voice  gained  in  volume  and  register 
and  swelled  in  jubilant  strains  of  the  chorus  to 
triumiphal  close,  Saxon  felt  some  old  order  had 
passed  away  forevermore.  All  the  yesterdays, 
with  their  failure  and  heartache  and  struggle, 
and  laughter  and  tears  and  gladness  and  despair, 
were  gone.  A  new  day  with  a  new  chance,  with 
better  hopes  and  sweeter  dreams  sure  of  being 
realized,  seemed  pressing  upon  him,  and  the 
66 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

wonder  of  life  arid  living  was  so  transcendently 
beautiful,  there  could  be  nothing  but  rising  tides 
to  bear  him  to  summerlands  of  the  soul. 

As  the  last  note  echoed  in  ineffable  sweetness 
from  the  mighty  walls  of  this  "Garden  of  God," 
the  messenger  of  Tullan  summoned  him  to  the 
presence  of  the  Iximagan  princess.  With  the 
spell  of  the  voice  still  upon  him,  he  followed  the 
messenger  toward  the  tent  of  the  women. 

The  tent  that  had  ser\'cd  as  a  sleeping  room 
for  the  wompn  was  being  taken  down  and  pre- 
pared for  the  pack  train.  The  larger  tent  still 
stood ;  but  the  sides  were  lifted,  and  a  splendid 
bouquet  of  oleanders  breathed  subtle  fragrance 
everywhere. 

Tullan  greeted  him  warmly,  and  with  an  air 

of  expectant  pride  faced  him  toward  a  screen  of 

heavy,  bright-colored  silk,  brocaded  with   forms 

of   birds,    fruits   and   flowers.     Only   a   moment 

67 


Dalleszona 

thus,  when  a  jewelled  hand  brushed  aside  the 
screen,  and  the  Princess  stood  beside  Tullan. 

Surprised !  Well,  possibly ;  but  the  word  does 
not  satisfy  the  condition. 

Certainly  Saxon  was,  not  a  stranger  to  woman- 
ly beauty  and  feminine  charm,  for  he  had  been 
feted  at  brilliant  receptions  in  Paris,  London, 
New  York,  Washington  and  New  Orleans;  but 
here  was  the  most  entrancingly  beautiful  woman 
he  had  ever  seen. 

A  trifle  above  average  height,  weighing  perhaps 
a  hundred  and  forty  pounds;  body  well  propor- 
tioned ;  waving  black  hair  fine  as  silk,  in  shining 
braids  coroneted  to  a  faultless  head;  blue-black 
eyes  lustrous  as  molten  gold;  full,  tender  lips; 
complexion  pink-bronze  of  health;  cheeks  with 
hint  af  dimples;  perfect  chin  that  rounded  to  a 
matchless  throat,  swelling  to  a  voluptuous  bosom ; 
grace  incarnate  in  look  and  action;  wide  richly- 
68 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

colored  sash  at  waist,  with  splendid  reboso  of 
wine-colored  silk  thrown  over  her  shoulders,  an 
uncrowned  queen  of  original  American  blood, 
justly  proud  of  the  generations  of  ancestors  who 
had  survived  the  most  brutal  persecutions  the 
world  has  ever  known,  and  preserved  kindness, 
gentleness  and  honor  as  the  greatest  heritage  of 
her  race,  she  stood  before  him,  the  Creator's 
masterpiece  of  beauty  and  loveliness. 

As  only  an  Indian  maiden  can  look, — yea,  al- 
most as  God  can  look, — beyond  soul  and  sense, 
brain  and  eye,  into  the  heart  and  will,  she  gazed 
at  Saxon  more  than  a  minute,  her  hands  linked 
in  friendship's  sign,  then  smiling,  spoke : — 

"Mr.  Saxon,  yestermorn  you  were  an  unwel- 
come stranger  in  Yaki  land,  but  you  and  your 
friend  have  saved  more  than  my  life;  and  now, 
with  all  my  heart  I  welcome  you  as  guest  of 
honor  to  children  of  America's  most  ancient 
69 


Dalleszona 

people, — the  Toltecs, — whose  highest  national 
ideal  was  peace,  and  whose  greatest  individual 
enrichment  was  kindness. 

"You  are  perfectly  free  to  return  to  your 
flying  wonder  on  the  mountain  if  you  wish  to 
do  so  with  all  the  gold  you  have  taken ;  but  you 
can  gladden  my  heart  beyond  measure  if  you 
will  go  with  us  to  the  home  of  my  father,  and 
learn  something  of  the  spirit  and  purpose  of  my 
people,  small  remnant  of  the  once  glorious 
Iximagas." 

In  accord  with  centuries  of  Yaki  custom, 
Tullan  led  the  way,  while  the  Princess  and  Saxon 
rode  side  by  side ;  and  the  way  was  a  new  way 
for  each  of  them,  though  the  Princess  had  been 
over  the  road  many  times. 

The  southern  end  of  the  Hermosillo  road 
brought  them  over  a  soft,  sand  wash,  bordered  by 
jagged  hills  and  scant  vegetation  for  some  miles, 
70 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

then  climbed  by  rugged  grades  to  Cactus  Mesa, 
— a  broad  savanna  that  stretched  for  a  hundred 
miles  south  by  east,  indescribably  beautiful  now 
with  bloom  of  desert  rose  and  townships  of 
golden  poppies. 

A  few  miles  from  the  northen  border  of  Cactus 
Flat    lies   Oleander  Valley,    a   narrow,   winding 
gash  in  mother  earth,  with  perpendicular  walls 
of    basalt    and    bed    smooth    as    a    floor,    where 
oleanders    bloom    under   stately    sycamores,    and 
Imnets  and  wild  canaries  make  music  all  the  day. 
Into  this  valley  they  descended,  and,  turning 
to  the  left,  journeyed  all  day  long.     When  the 
afternoon   shadows   lengthened,   they  came   to  a 
laughing  spring  that  leaped  from  a  perpendicular 
clifif  to  a  great  pool,  but  soon  disappeared  among 
broken  rocks.     Here  they  camped  for  the  night. 
When  the  setting  sun   flamed   a  trail  of  fire 
across  the  Mother  Sea  and  the  afterglow  kissed 
71 


Dalleszona 

the  velvet  sky  into  nameless  beauty,  the  Princess 
and  Saxon  climbed  a  rugged  trail  to  the  rim  of 
the  valley  above  the  laughing  waters,  while  the 
purple  twilight  breathed  its  magic  charm  over  a 
languorous  world  and  peopled  the  unbordered 
distances  with  messengers  divine. 

"Whence  came  the  Iximagas?  May  I  know 
somewhat  of  the  manner  of  their  coming?" 

'Twas  Saxon  speaking,  and  his  eyes,  if  you 
could  have  come  close  to  them,  had  a  questioning, 
hungry  look,  as  if  the  answer  to  his  question  had 
possibilities  of  life  and  death. 

The  question,  so  direct  and  compelling,  startled 
the  Princess;  but,  turning  her  wondrous  eyes, 
now  full  of  friendly  interest,  full  upon  him,  with 
inquiring  gaze  that  seemed  to  say,  "You  have 
asked  a  great  deal,  but  I  feel  you  can  be  trusted," 
she  said.  "Yes,  I  will  show  you  the  memory 
tablets  of  a  once  mighty  race. 
72 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

"More  than  two  thousand  years  ago  my  an- 
cestors dwelt  in  a  garden  of  deh'ght,  where  the 
swift  flowing  Orontes  sparkles  through  vine- 
yards and  orchards,  drops  through  the  giant 
cedars  of  Libanus,  and  flows  through  fertile 
fields  where  morning  and  evening  the  air  is 
heavy  with  fragrance  of  myrtle  trees  spiced  with 
tang  of  juniper  and  balm  of  Gilead,  then  winds 
its  way  through  plains  bespangled  with  rose  of 
Sharon  and  lilies  of  the  valley,  to  pour  its 
crystal  flood  into  the  Great  Sea.  This  homeland 
was  a  pleasant  land  for  centuries,  and  they  were 
loath  to  leave  it;  but,  weary  of  wars  that  de- 
vastated lands  and  wasted  cities,  more  than  ten 
thousand  young  couples,  with  high  resolve  and 
strong  determination,  set  out  to  find  a  new  land, 
somewhere  on  God's  great  earth,  where  they 
might  plant  a  new  civilization,  based  on  Right 


73 


Dalleszona 

and    Justice,    and    maintain    ideals    of    kindness, 
gentleness  and  truth. 

"Towards  the  rising  sun  they  traveled,  over 
wasting  sands,  tremendous  plateaus  and  match- 
less lowlands,  even  unto  the  shores  of  the  Mother 
Sea.  Then  northward  the  star  of  hope  led  them 
on  to  frozen  lands,  then  eastward  along  a  narrow 
stretch  of  barren  plain  by  whose  southern  shore 
flowed  a  resistless  flood  of  waters,  warm  from 
tropic  seas,  but  whose  northward  shore  was  ice- 
bound far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  Eastward 
they  came  to  an  ever  widening  and  uninhabited 
land  of  forests,  filled  with  game  and  swift  flow- 
ing streams  that  gave  sense  of  security  and  home. 
Twelve  times  the  moon  waxed  and  waned,  then 
for  days  on  days  and  still  more  days  the  earth 
groaned  and  trembled,  ocean  tides  boomed  and 
thundered,  high  mountains  sent  forth  tongues  of 
flame,  lowlands  rose  and  fell,  until  nameless 
74 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

terrors  reigned  everywhere  and  all  things  seemed 
doomed  to  chaos.  When  Nature's  travail  was 
ended,  the  bridge  of  land  they  had  crossed  was 
broken  into  islands,  and  return,  even  if  desired, 
was  impossible.  Our  God  had  given  us  a  new 
land,  and  no  enemy  was  there  to  make  war;  and 
highest  hopes  and  better  days  filled  every  heart, 
as  our  people  journeyed  southward. 

"In  the  lands  from  whence  you  come, — 'Ari- 
zona,' you  call  it,  but  known  to  our  people  as 
the  'Sunshine  Parlors  of  the  Great  Spirit,' — my 
people  digged  water-ways,  created  gardens  of 
fruit  and  flowers  and  grains,  with  homes  of 
plenty.  Oleanders  bloomed,  pomegranates  rip- 
ened, peace  and  contentment  ruled,  and  the  Ixi- 
magas  became  a  mighty  people.  Grown  to  mil- 
lions, colonies  were  planted  south  and  eastward 
on  the  shores  of  the  great  baj'.  Ever  southward 
our  civilization  streamed,  growing  in  splendor 
75 


Dalleszona 

and  power,  until  luxurious  ease  and  idleness 
became  the  ruling  passion  and  a  mania  for 
pleasure  coursed  through  brain  and  body,  and 
God,  our  God,  who  had  blest  us  beyond  our 
wildest  dreams,  was  forgotten.  The  form  and 
ceremonies  of  godliness  crowded  our  temples  and 
enriched  her  altars,  but  the  spirit  of  brotherhood 
had  departed  and  our  glory  was  gone. 

"Then  came  the  scourge  of  desolation, — the 
Aztecs,  offspring  of  scythian  witches  and  Tartar 
outlaws, — the  Huns  of  America.  How  they 
came  only  the  Great  Spirit  knows,  but  they  fell 
upon  all  that  our  hands  and  brains  and  skill  had 
wrought.  Cunning  as  spiders,  fierce  as  demons, 
they  drove  us  from  our  cities,  seized  our  farms, 
set  up  altars  for  sacrifice  of  blood  to  their  gods 
of  war,  and  my  people  fled  across  the  Cordilleras 
to  the  valleys  and  mesas  of  this  great  land. 
Meanwhile  pestilence,  famine  and  earthquake 
76 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

had  brought  desolation  to  northern  lands,  and  the 
remnant  of  our  people  there  joined  us  here,  and 
again  peace  and  plenty  beckoned  us  on. 

"That  was  seven  hundred  years  ago.  Where 
your  airship  now  rests  was  then  a  splendid  lake. 
This  cactus  covered  mesa  was  a  wide  spreading 
wheatfield,  sloping  down  to  the  arms  of  the 
Toltec  gulf,  which  was  much  wider  then  and 
extended  a  hundred  miles  farther  north. 

"A  hundred  years  rolled  swiftly  by  in  'Old 
Mescal.'  Our  architects  were  busy  with  plans 
for  great  temples  of  worship,  plazas  of  peace  and 
pleasure,  and  pyramids  for  our  dead.  Abundant 
harvests  were  gathered,  and  great  fiestas  of  glad- 
ness were  on  all  over  the  nation.  Then  far  to 
the  north  and  west  Sunset  Mountain  shot  forth 
hissing  flames  a  thousand  feet  high.  A  heavy 
stream  of  black  oil  burst  from  the  mountain's 
base  and  overspread  the  entire  inland  sea.  There 
77 


Dalleszona 

were  thunderings,  lightnings  and  an  earthquake; 
the  oil  caught  fire ;  a  barrage  of  flame  rolled  in 
tremendous  cascades  down  to  the  very  gates  of 
the  Mother  Sea,  This  mountain,  Castile  Leon, 
belched  smoke  and  lava ;  the  lowlands  along  the 
coast  were  lifted  up ;  our  wheat  fields  were  baked, 
our  lake  drained  by  underground  channels. 
Thousands  of  our  people  perished  from  hunger, 
fear  and  black  plague,  and  the  remnant  sought 
refuge  in  the  vales  of  Truxlan.  Then  the 
Spaniards  came,  broke  the  Aztec  power,  and  the 
Toltecs  had  some  measure  of  freedom  and  peace. 
Now  courage  and  hope  is  strong  as  in  the  olden 
days  in  the  hogans  of  the  Yakis,  and  the  House 
of  Iximaga  believes  the  long  dark  night  of 
humiliation  will  soon  be  ended  and  the  dawn  of 
a  better  day  is  at  hand, — a  day  when  the  foolish, 
cruel  rule  of  this  hybrid  nation — Spaniard  and 
Aztec — will  be  broken,  and  a  wise  and  just 
78 


The  Road  to  Truxlan 

civilization  worth}'  of  this  generous,  genial  sunny 
clime,  will  hold  lasting  sway  from  Rio  Grande 
to  Yucatan  and  from  the  Mayan  gulf  to  the 
Mother  Sea." 

Inspired  by  the  splendor  and  sweep  of  the 
deathless  passion  of  her  people  for  highest  ideals, 
and  thrilled  with  hope  of  speedy  consummation 
of  immortal  dreams,  the  fair  Iximagan  seemed 
transformed  and  radiant  with  spiritual  power 
and  loveliness. 

In  the  morning  she  had  appeared  to  Saxon 
transcendently  beautiful.  Now  in  the  deeps  of 
his  soul,  every  vestige  of  racial  prejudice  swept 
away,  he  knew  that  of  all  women  she  was  the 
only  one  who,  walking  by  his  side,  could  make 
his  life's  pathway  luminous  with  joy  forevermore. 

A  tiny  thread  of  flame  shot  up  from  the  camp 
under  the  sycamores  far  below,  and  one  of  the 
tents  glowed  from  lighted  candles  within. 
79 


Dalleszona 

"Look,"  said  the  Princess.  "Tullan  has 
kindled  our  watch-fires,  and  Vestal  and  Cas- 
sandra are  chanting  the  Toltec  vesper  hymn. 

"Come,  let  us  go." 


80 


Saxon  Meets  Iximaga 

CHAPTER  V 
Saxon  Meets  Iximaga 

Ascending  from  the  Valley  of  Oleanders  the 
following  morning,  Tullan  led  them  across  a 
heavy  lava  flow  to  a  narrow  ridge,  or  headland, 
that  commanded  a  perfect  view  of  the  Valley 
of  the  Yakis,  the  Vale  of  Tuxlan  and  the  hogans 
of  Iximaga  two  thousand  feet  below  and  more 
than  twenty  miles  away.  Eastward  were  low 
hills  and  wooded  slopes. 

The  valley  itself  lies  in  the  form  of  a  tre- 
mendous quadrangle.  Across  the  northern  end 
were  three  cities ;  in  the  center  of  the  valley  stood 
the  capitol  of  the  tribe,  with  the  gleaming  white 
hogans  of  Iximaga  in  bold  relief;  while  across 
the  southern  end,  terraced  to  the  very  base  of 
perpendicular,  phonolite  clififs,  lay  six  villages 
81 


Dalleszona 

with  scores  of  towers  gleaming  like  burnished 
silver. 

As  Saxon,  with  the  trained  eye  of  the  aviator, 
surveyed  the  marvelous  panorama,  he  caught  the 
impression  of  a  magnificent  temple,  the  coloring 
of  the  cliffs  at  the  extreme  southern  end,  with 
the  checker-board  of  villages  at  the  base,  lending 
the  effect  of  a  tremendous  pipe  organ.  Already 
the  valley  was  astir  with  human  life.  From 
north  and  south  long  lines  were  forming  and 
moving  toward  the  center  of  the  western  side, 
where  the  road  dropped  from  the  broad  shoulders 
of  Castile  Leon  to  the  far-spreading  lowlands, 
then  ran  straight  as  a  line  of  light  to  the  hogans 
of  Iximaga.  Along  this  road  the  lines  of  wel- 
come were  forming  to  receive  the  Princess  and 
her  rescuer,  the  messenger  of  the  white-winged 
falcon  of  the  skies. 

"Let  us  wait  a  little  season,"  said  the  Princess. 
82 


Saxon  Alceis  Ixiiiiaga 

"  'Tis  such  a  moaning  as  I  have  seen  the  mirage 
work  wonders,  and  I  wish  you  might  view  our 
homeland  under  the  charm  of  its  creative  magic." 
Scarcely  had  she  finished  speaking  when  the 
viewless  hands  of  this  miracle  worker  began  to 
weave  form  and  color  across  the  northern  end 
of  the  valley.  Steel-blue  towers  with  girders, 
bands,  trusses  and  Alhambran  arches  climbed  in 
rich  profusion  to  dizzy  heights.  Homes,  business 
blocks,  temples,  forums,  plazas,  market  places, 
domes,  turrets,  spires,  altars,  pyramids,  rose  in 
splendid  proportions,  until  the  entire  valley  was 
teeming  with  all  the  life,  splendor  and  artificial 
architecture  of  the  great  engineers  of  America's 
ancient  empire  builders,  and  the  glories  and 
wonders  of  a  mighty  civilization  was  filmed  upon 
the  wide-flung  greens  and  terraces  of  the  land  of 
the  Manziyumas.  Then  the  continental  divide 
far  beyond  seemed  to  dissolve  and  melt  away  into 
83 


Dalleszona 

the  lowlands  that  sloped  down  to  the  sparkling 
waters  of  the  Mayan  Gulf,  and  the  vast  domain 
of  prehistoric  realms  took  form  and  position,  with 
orchards,  vineyards,  maize-fields,  forests,  lakes, 
rivers,  cities  and  the  multitudinous  life  of  peace- 
ful millions. 

Once  again  the  slides  were  changed  in  this 
camera  of  the  ages,  and  the  forces  of  destruction 
in  entrancing  but  appalling  pantomime  played 
upon  the  screen, — mailed  warriors,  swift  footmen, 
vast  armies  in  fighting  formation, — battle-axes, 
and  spears,  lances  and  bludgeons,  battling  rams 
and  catapults,  rivers  of  blood,  sheets  of  flame, 
burning  cities,  blazing  temples,  devastated  homes, 
women  and  children  trodden  down  or  fleeing 
toward  the  western  hills,  famine,  pestilence,  war, 
— war, — war, — hell  on  every  side,  a  vast  cauldron 
of  doom,  boiling,  swirling  everywhere;  Aztec, 
Moundbuilder,  Mayan,  Tezcucan,  Peruvian  co- 
84 


Saxon  Meets  Ixiinaga 

horts,  Inca  leading  on,  Montezuma's  battalion 
legions  charging  down  the  steeps,  an  irresistible 
avalanche  of  destruction.  Then  the  Spaniards 
came  to  complete  the  desolation  with  his  greed 
for  gold. 

As  the  mirage  vanished,  Saxon  turned  to  his 
companion.  "Fair  Iximagan,  you  have  your  wish. 
Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  your  people 
and  their  desolation.  I,  too,  believe  their  former 
greatness  must  be  restored.  Surely  the  sufferings 
and  calamities,  past  and  present,  of  this  'Garden 
of  God'  have  not  been  altogether  in  vain,  and 
with  return  of  former  ideals  must  come  a  golden 
age  of  a  race  redeemed,  with  another  chance  to 
work  out  blessings  for  a  world." 

The  lustrous  eyes  of  the  fair  Iximagan  were 
wondrously  full  of  happiness,  as  she  replied :  "Call 
me  not  Tair  Princess,'  call  me  'Dalleszona' ;  for 


85 


Dalleszona 

thus  I  am  known  to  friends,  and  you  are  more 
than  friend." 

Dropping  through  vast  reaches  of  purple  sage 
into  a  \vinding  canyon,  Tullan  led  them  through 
a  narrow  defile,  whence  they  suddenly  emerged 
into  the  Gardens  of  Castile  Leon,  with  its  laugh- 
ing fountains,  singing  birds  and  grateful  shade. 

After  light  refreshments  were  served,  while 
the  rest  of  the  weary  travelers  laughed,  chatted, 
and  listened  to  the  restful  merrymaking  of  the 
feathered  songsters,  Dalleszona  led  Saxon  to  the 
base  of  a  precipitous  bluff  where  a  half-naked 
Yaki  kept  watchful  guard  near  a  heavy  screen 
of  bougainvillaea.  At  a  sign  from  Dalleszona  the 
guard  passed  under  the  blooming  mass  and  rolled 
aside  a  heavy  stone  door.  Passing  the  threshold, 
the  door  rolled  into  place,  and  Saxon  and  the 
girl  were  left  alone  in  a  dimly  lighted  corridor, 
with  walls  of  solid  granite. 


Saxon  Meets  Iximaga 

Saxon's  nerves  were  tense  as  drawn  steel 
cords,  for  he  had  just  h'stened  to  the  story  of 
the  final  desperate  stand  of  the  Toltecs  against 
the  Aztecs  in  this  place  long  centuries  agonc, 
and  how,  four  hundred  years  before,  the  Span- 
iards had  murdered  hundreds  of  men,  women 
and  children  in  this  old  garden  in  an  attempt 
to  extort  more  gold  and  the  location  of  their 
treasure  from  them.  However,  he  took  the  candle 
from  her  hand  and  followed  her  along  the  cor- 
ridor, until  they  arrived  at  another  circular  stone 
door,  and  somehow  his  mind  called  up  the 
shriveled  mummies  in  the  gold-lined  cave  on  the 
other  side  of  the  mountain.  Upon  request  of 
Dallcszona,  Saxon  rolled  the  door  aside,  revealing 
utter  darkness.  Stepping  inside,  again  the  door 
rolled  into  place,  and  with  difficulty  he  refrained 
from  screaming  aloud.  The  girl  touched  the 
candle  to  a  torch  that  instantly  flamed,  lighting 
87 


Dalleszona 

up  a  great  natural  cave,  the  roof  and  sides  fretted 
with  gleaming  crystals  in  fantastic  forms,  while 
half-sitting,  half-reclining  on  gypsum  benches 
were  scores  of  the  illustrious  dead  of  the  Ixi- 
magas, — the  beauty  and  chivalry  of  the  Toltecs 
for  two  thousand  years;  Humanity's  last  pitiful 
effort  to  abolish  death;  Mortality's  voiceless  cry 
for  immortality.  Down  the  long  aisle  Dalleszona 
led  the  way,  the  dust  of  ages,  white,  soft,  and 
fine  as  flour  under  their  feet,  gave  no  sound 
save  the  muffled  breathings  as  of  souls  crossing 
"No  Man's  Land"  to  eternal  realms,  until  they 
came  to  another  stone  door.  All  of  Saxon's 
strength  was  required  to  roll  it  in  the  grooves; 
but,  once  inside,  he  stood  transfixed,  amazed  at 
what  he  saw.  Brilliant  white  light  flooded 
everywhere,  falling  in  dazzling  splendor  upon 
long  rows  of  tables,  benches  and  sideboards  of 
alabaster  and  onyx,  reflected  from  prisms  of  pure 
88 


Saxon  Meets  Iximaga 

obsidian,  sparkling  on  globes  and  shafts  of  chal- 
cedony, and  far  down  the  splendid  length  shim- 
mering in  lustrous  waves  from  matchless  tapes- 
tries of  silken  wool,  and  maguey  fibre  white  as 
the  garments  of  righteousness  in  the  apocalyptic 
vision. 

Upon  the  benches  and  tables  were  all  manner 
of  copper  tools,  also  rings,  brooches,  bracelets 
and  other  ornaments  of  silver  and  gold,  inlaid 
with  priceless  gems  in  myriad  shapes  and  beauty; 
bronze  tablets  and  copper  shields  side  by  side  of 
slabs  of  silver  and  gold,  engraved  with  the  history 
and  achievements  of  a  great  people  for  thousands 
of  years ;  also  brocaded  curtains  and  screens,  with 
forms  of  birds,  animals,  flowers,  fruits,  grasses 
and  grains  and  trees  in  endless  variety;  medal- 
lions, plaques,  busts  and  bas-reliefs  of  both  men 
and    women,    immortal    genii    of    a    proud    race 


89 


Dallcszona 

wrought  into  metallic  beauty,  untarnished  by  the 
corroding  hand  of  Time. 

The  thing  that  impressed  Saxon  most  was  the 
utter  absence  of  anything,  or  instrument,  for 
destruction,  nothing  to  kill  or  maim  or  wound, 
— no  relic  of  war  of  any  kind,  but  everything  to 
create,  build  up  and  make  beautiful. 

Entranced,  Saxon  forgot  time  and  outside 
things,  and  would  have  spent  days  and  weeks 
seeing  and  studying  things,  but  Dalleszona  called 
him  away. 

"Some  day  we  will  return,  and  you  may  see 
and  learn  all  you  wish  of  these,  for  I  want  you 
to  know  that  we  have  not  always  been  a  broken- 
hearted, humiliated,  almost  hopeless  people;  but 
now  our  escort  is  waiting.  Tullan  will  be  re- 
quired to  report,  and  present  you  to  my  father 
soon.     Besides,  I  know  you  will  be  interested  in 


90 


Sfixo/2  Meets  Iximngn 

many  things  along  the  white  way  to  which  we 
must  now  be  going." 

As  they  turned  into  the  "Sunbeam  Rgad," 
Dalleszona  was  in  happy,  brilliant  mood,  and  the 
life-giving  contagion  of  her  splendid  presence 
inspired  the  whole  party  to  laughter  and  song. 
Saxon  joined  as  far  as  possible  in  all  the  gayety; 
but  above  the  cheer  and  charm  of  the  wondrous 
welcome  a  mighty  struggle  swept  his  spirit. 
Even  as  aero-squadrons  massed  in  battle-formation 
above  peaceful  fields  and  silent  woods,  so  the 
immortal  forces  of  the  world's  spiritual  ideals 
charged  in  bloodless  contest  'gainst  prejudice, 
precedent  and  propriety.  It  was  the  age-old, 
world-wide  battle  of  love  for  a  wonderful  woman 
in  the  heart  of  a  man  with  hate  of  people, 
customs  and  things  dififerent  from  what  he  had 
been  accustomed  to  see  and  know. 

As  they  neared  the  capitol  grounds,  the  throngs 
91 


Dalleszona 

increased  to  tens  of  thousands;  for  the  Yakis  had 
been  summoned  from  every  nook  and  corner  of 
Toltec  lands,  and  the  significance  of  the  whole 
gathering  burst  upon  him  with  overwhelming 
power.  It  was  not  only  a  welcome  for  their 
princess,  it  was  also  a  demonstration  of  the  past 
and  a  prophecy  of  the  future.  It  was  two  thou- 
sand years  of  history  writ  into  life.  It  was  a 
nation's  horoscope  for  centuries, — ^Yakis,  half- 
naked,  filthy,  despairing,  broken  as  they  had  been 
for  four  hundred  years;  Yakis  with  mortal  terror 
in  face  and  eyes  as  they  fled  from  the  flaming 
death  of  Aztecs;  Toltecs,  strong,  proud,  hopeful, 
well  clothed,  peace,  plenty,  power,  passion,  pleas- 
ure, poverty,  with  here  and  there  in  every  group 
faces  of  high  resolve,  eyes  agleam  with  lofty 
ideals  and  unmeasured  purpose, — the  flower  and 
fruitage,  sweetness  and  greatness  of  two  millen- 
niums of  mortal  endeavor.  Sunlight  and  shadow, 
92 


Saxon  Aleets  Iximaga 

joy  and  sorrow,  laughter  and  crying,  hosannas 
and  curses, — a  photograph  of  long,  long  centuries 
of  a  nation's  life  staged  in  human  flesh,  fire  and 
action. 

As  Saxon  watched  and  sensed  the  whole  pag- 
eant, he  wished  as  only  a  lover  can  wish,  that 
Dalleszona  might  see  the  mighty  gatherings  of 
his  fellow-countrymen  in  the  United  States  and 
catch  the  sweep  and  vision  of  their  institutions 
and  progress. 

As  they  approached  the  hogans  of  Iximaga, 
Dalleszona  dismounted  and,  with  flying  feet, 
passed  to  the  inner  court,  while  Tullan  led 
Saxon  to  a  grape-vined  pergola  beside  a  silvery 
fountain. 

In   half  an   hour   Dalleszona  came  with   her 

father    and    mother, — leaders    of    a    nation.      A 

single  glance  compelled  Saxon  to  admit  to  himself 

he  was  in  the  presence  of  true  greatness, — the 

93 


Dalleszona 

mother,  sweet-faced,  with  the  tender  questioning 
eyes  of  her  people;  the  father,  seventy  years  of 
age,  with  the  form  and  vigor  of  fifty,  full  six 
feet  tall,  broad  shouldered,  deep  chested,  clean 
limbed,  massive  head  domed  high  in  front,  lu- 
minous but  kindly  eyes.  In  all  the  gatherings 
of  Europe  Saxon  had  never  seen  the  superior  of 
this  commanding  American. 

"My  son,  welcome  to  the  land  of  the  Toltecs, 
the  hogans  of  Iximaga,  the  heart  of  a  once  great 
and  still  generous  race.  You  must  be  weary  with 
long  hours  in  the  saddle.  Come,  we  will  have 
refreshments." 

The  dining-room  was  narrow,  but  long.  An 
alabaster  slab  on  a  heavy  pedestal  of  chalcedony 
served  as  table.  The  seats  were  rustic,  of  man- 
zanite  and  chaparral.  All  dishes  were  glazed 
pottery,  save  some  bowls  of  woven  work  for 
fruit  and  nuts;  but  the  knives,  forks  and  spoons 
94 


Saxon  Meets  Ixiinagn 

were  of  solid  silver,  hand  wrought  and  finely  en- 
graved. Several  bronze  medallions  of  famous 
ancestors  decorated  the  walls;  but  the  thing  that 
attracted  Saxon's  close  attention  was  a  matchless 
piece  of  tapestry,  which  served  as  a  screen  and 
curtain  at  the  far  end,  next  to  a  sleeping  room 
where  he  was  later  taken.  Seeing  his  eyes  often 
turned  to  the  tapestry,  Dalleszona  said:  "Come, 
I  will  show  you  the  work  of  my  brother  whom 
your  friend  Highfinger  buried  in  Lastuna  Hills." 
To  his  utter  surprise  it  was  not  tapestry  at  all, 
but  a  massive  slab  of  snow  white  obsidian,  inlaid 
with  a  filigree  of  gold  in  network  design.  The 
reverse  side  was  painted  with  mineral  indigo 
extracted  from  metallic  ores  by  chemical  pro- 
cesses, so  true  to  nature's  coloring  that  the  whole 
piece  seemed  a  section  of  real  sky  flecked  with 
patches  of  cloud  whose  edges  were  tinged  with 
fire.  As  he  studied  this  unmatched  creation,  let 
95 


Dalleszona 

it  be  set  down  to  his  eternal  credit  that  Ben  Saxon 
was  large  enough  to  pay  sincere  homage  to  the 
genius  of  this  unsung  American,  now  sleeping  in 
an  unknown  grave  in  the  desert  sage. 

When  the  voiceless  magic  of  semi-tropical 
night  breathed  all  subtle  charms  across  this  land 
of  legend  and  romance  with  its  crumbling  towers 
and  vine-covered  walls,  and  the  stars  came  out 
in  a  low-arched  sky  blue  as  molten  sapphires, 
these  two  young  people  sat  together  near  a  low- 
voiced  fountain,  and  Dalleszona  thrummed  sweet 
unnamed  melodies  of  her  ancient  race  from  a 
maitreown,  and  gave  to  Saxon  the  legends  of  the 
Incas  before  Pizzaro  came. 

When  Dalleszona  bade  him  good-night,  he 
passed  to  his  own  room;  but  ere  he  disrobed  for 
the  night  he  had  distinct  remembrance  of  three 
things  of  vital  importance  for  all  coming  days. 
He  had  promised  Iximaga  that  he  would  bring 
96 


Saxon  Meets  Iximagn 

the  Mystery  Maid  to  Truxlan;  Dalleszona  had 
promised  to  joyride  with  him  in  the  airplane; 
and  he  had  resolved  to — but  I  guess  he  would 
not  want  me  to  write  that  now. 


97 


Dalleszona 

CHAPTER  VI 

An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

The  next  morning  Saxon  and  Tullan  went 
alter  the  Mystery  Maid,  taking  the  shorter, 
rugged  trail  across  the  shoulder  of  Castile  Leon. 

l\illan  led  the  way,  wary,  but  silent,  after  the 
fashion  of  his  people.  Saxon  was  busy  trying  to 
plan  a  future  with  Dalleszona,  but  finding  no 
way  to  get  her  out  of  the  land  of  her  nativity,  or 
separate  her  from  her  people, 

Tullan  was  a  splendid  fellow.  Iximaga  was 
worthy  of  all  respect  and  admiration.  Dalleszona 
was  perfect,  with  new  and  wonderful  charms 
coming  to  light  in  unexpected  ways.  But  her 
people !  Bizmillah !  In  truth,  most  of  them 
were  a  filthy,  mangy,  hopeless  bunch.  How  could 
he  ever  come  to  recognize  them  as  equals,  asso- 
98 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

ciates,  friends,  brothers,  family  relatives.  Then 
there  would  come  the  tiash-vision  of  Toltec 
greatness  and  real  grandeur  in  bygone  ages,  as 
proved  by  the  historic  treasures  he  had  seen  in 
the  art  gallery  in  the  old  garden,  and  with  it 
Dalleszona's  faith-dream  of  restoration.  And 
Saxon  was  forced  to  admit  the  dream  might  be 
realized  under  proper  leadership,  and  also  that 
the  leader  of  such  an  accomplishment  would  reap 
the  largest  harvest  of  personal  satisfaction  and 
insure  to  himself  the  largest  possible  measure  of 
worldly  honors,  and  possibly  become  the  stabilizing 
factor  that  should  save  civilization  from  the 
sweep  of  unrest  and  impending  chaos  which  might 
precede  the  reconstruction  of  nations  emerging 
from  the  wreckage  of  the  Great  War,  because  he 
could  clearly  see  it  would  be  far  more  difficult 
to  secure  united  effort  of  people  for  rebuilding 
the  world's  fortunes  than  it  was  to  inspire  them 
99 


Dalleszona 

for  war.  And  beyond  this.  How  could  he  go 
away  and  ever  be  happy,  remembering  this  beau- 
tiful, talented  girl,  held  in  the  bond  of  race, 
working  steadfastly  on  to  certain  failure  and 
infinite  sorrow  if  no  efficient  leader  appeared  for 
her  people.  Of  course  he  could  return  to  the 
United  States  with  the  fifty  thousand  dollars  for 
a  start,  and  after  the  fashion  of  his  people  he 
could  probably  accumulate  vast  wealth;  but  he 
had  already  seen  enough  of  the  world  to  know 
that,  while  money  could  buy  many  comforts, 
wealth  was  absolutely  powerless  to  buy  happiness 
of  heart  or  satisfy  the  craving  of  love. 

Thus  he  battled  with  this  personal  problem  as 
he  fled  along  the  trail  behind  the  swift-footed 
Tullan.  One  moment,  hot  with  wrath  with 
himself  for  ever  listening  to  Highfinger's  dreams, 
then  thankful  and  glad  as  he  recalled  the  de- 
liverance he  had  helped  to  give  to  Dalleszona. 
100 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

Finally  he  fell  to  wondering  what  Ixiniaga  had 
in  mind  when  he  said  he  wanted  to  talk  business. 
Was  it  possible  Iximaga  would  offer  to  him  the 
work  of  restoring  the  Toltec  nation?  But  even 
this  alluring  prospect  was  soon  banished  from 
his  mind. 

The  trail  they  had  followed  up  the  long  ridges 
now  led  them  into  a  small  glen.  Skirting  a  small 
clear  lake  they  came  upon  the  ruins  of  a  mag- 
nificent temple  facing  the  lake.  Immediately  to 
the  rear  of  the  ruins  lay  a  small  crescent  of  land 
entirely  flanked  by  a  natural  amphitheatre  suf- 
ficient to  seat  many  thousands  of  people.  In  fact, 
the  place  had  been  a  national  forum  for  the 
Toltecs  in  the  age  of  their  splendor  and  power, 
and  had  been  dismantled  by  the  Aztecs  centuries 
before. 

For  an  hour  Saxon  wandered  around  this 
fascinating  ruin,  but  never  dreamed  of  the  tre- 
101 


Dalleszona 

mendous  influence  this  place  would  have  upon 
his  own  and  the  world's  future.  But  the  pos- 
sibilities of  its  restoration  occupied  his  thoughts 
until  they  reached  the  De  Haviland. 

For  the  return  trip  they  sailed  due  east  along 
the  northern  line  of  Yaki  land  for  many  miles, 
finally  landing  at  Southrown,  where  waters  of 
mineral  springs  flowed  into  spacious  granite  tanks, 
and  refreshed  themselves  with  bathing  in  the 
healing  waters.  But  the  thing  that  interested 
Saxon  most  was  several  heavy  springs  of  high- 
grade  petroleum  in  a  vast  basin  not  far  from  the 
hot  springs,  and  could  be  easily  turned  into  com- 
mercial fortune. 

That  evening  Iximaga  very  carefully  examined 
the  mechanism  of  the  Mystery  Maid,  and  asked 
many  questions  as  to  cost  of  manufacture  and 
possibilities  of  service. 

The  next  day  Dalleszona  and  Saxon  sailed 
102 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

southward,  and  landed  near  the  base  of  the  ch"ffs 
he  had  seen  so  marvellously  outlined  by  the 
mirage.  For  several  hours  they  explored  the 
quarries  of  onyx  and  alabaster,  also  the  gem 
mines  where  beryl,  chalcedony,  tourmaline  and 
rubies,  amethyst  and  emerald,  obsidian  and  tur- 
quoise veined  with  wire  gold  lay  in  rich  abun- 
dance through  immense  ledges.  Here  were  pre- 
cious stones  sufficient  to  enrich  a  world  beside 
which  all  the  accumulated  jewels  of  Europe  and 
Oriental  royal  courts  paled  to  insignificance. 

When  the  afternoon  shadows  lengthened,  the 
De  Haviland  soared  above  the  clillfs  and  once 
more  headed  southward.  For  miles  they  hovered 
over  a  winding,  rocky  chasm  which  finally 
emerged  into  a  far-reaching  valley,  enriched  with 
orchard,  vineyard  and  meadow  lands, — a  land 
that  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  had  been 
held  by  the  Yakis  under  grant  from  Spain,  but 
103 


Dalleszona 

under  the  rule  of  Diaz's  covetous  eyes  had  been 
fastened  upon  it,  and  thousands  upon  thousands 
of  the  fairest  and  best  of  Yaki  sons  and  daugh- 
ters had  been  and  were  still  being  sold  into 
slavery  by  the  Mexican  government,  to  wear 
their  lives  away  in  the  sisal  hemp  fields  of  Yu- 
catan, whence  comes  the  binder  twine  for  the 
harvest  fields  of  U.  S.  A, 

With  streaming  eyes  Dalleszona  told  of  the 
despoiling  of  homes,  breaking  up  of  families  and 
confiscation  of  lands  of  her  people,  and  finally 
asked:  "Oh,  Mr.  Saxon,  why  can't  your  great 
people  and  mighty  government  that  went  across 
the  seas  to  right  humanity's  wrongs  in  Europe, 
Oh,  why  can't  they  put  an  end  to  human  slavery 
in  this  fair  land?  Oh,  can't  you  find  some  way 
to  break  the  spell  of  darkness  that  still  hangs 
threatening  above   the  pathway  of   the   Toltecs 


104 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

and  paralyzes  the  very  fountains  of  ambition  for 
my  people?" 

Of  course  Saxon  could  not  pledge  anything 
for  his  great  nation,  but  solemnly,  sublimely, 
irrevocably  he  pledged  his  own  life  and  effort  to 
answer  the  appeal  of  this  uncrowned  queen  of 
America. 

The  next  day,  and  for  many  daj's,  Saxon  and 
Iximaga  passed  mttny  hours  together  in  the 
council  chamber  of  the  Yakis,  and  made  several 
trips  to  the  cave  of  art  and  history  treasures 
which  Dalleszona  had  opened  for  him  in  the 
"Garden  of  Castile  Leon." 

Undoubtedly  many,  many  questions  of  absorb- 
ing interest  were  discussed,  but  only  two  things 
became  surely  known.  First,  Saxon's  parentage 
and  ancestral  history,  as  far  as  known  to  himself, 
were  freely  and  fully  given  to  Iximaga.  Second, 
Iximaga  offered  Saxon  a  salary  of  one  thousand 
105 


Dalleszona 

ounces  of  gold  per  year  for  five  years  to  become 
the  governmental  agent  and  business  manager  of 
his  people,  henceforth  to  be  known  as  "The 
Toltec  Nation." 

After  a  couple  of  weeks,  during  which  Saxon 
fulfilled  his  pledge  to  Highfinger,  he  returned  to 
Truxlan  and  undertook  the  most  stupendous 
task  of  modern  times ;  namely,  the  restoration 
of  a  race  to  a  rightful  place  among  nations;  the 
redemption  of  a  vast  geographical  domain  from 
the  hand  of  chronic  failure;  and,  finally,  though 
he  knew  it  not  then,  the  inspiration  of  a  world 
to  deathless  loyalty  to  a  winning  democracy. 

The  very  day  of  his  return,  Dalleszona  brought 
to  him  the  national  flag  of  the  Toltecs,  a  mag- 
nificent creation  of  silk,  wool  and  maguey  fibre, 
from  their  ancient  looms,  preserved  through  all 
the  centuries  of  Aztec  and  Spanish  desolation,  by 


106 


Jn  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

Iximagan  devotion,  loyalty  and  sacrifice,  even 
unto  death. 

The  colors  were:  the  velvet  blue  of  semi- 
tropical  skies,  emblematic  of  God's  protection  and 
a  nation's  trust  and  acknowledgment  of  Him;  a 
broad  band  of  white  speaking  for  peace  and 
friendship  to  all  through  the  center;  the  lower 
portion  was  perfect  orange,  token  of  resplendent 
dawn  of  Hope  and  Progress. 

As  its  generous  folds  floated  upon  the  breeze, 
and  fluttered  a  thing  of  life  above  the  vine- 
wreathed  hogans  of  Iximaga,  shouts  of  joy  and 
surprise  broke  forth  all  over  the  village.  It  was 
the  first  friendly  flag  many  of  them  had  ever  seen, 
and  but  few  knew  of  its  existence  or  what  it 
stood  for;  but  every  one  knew  it  stood  for  some 
change,  so,  wider,  farther,  louder  swelled  the  cry, 
until  thousands  filled  the  plaza  and  blocked  the 
streets.  Briefly,  Iximaga  spoke  to  them  of  the 
107 


Dalleszona 

past  and  present,  and  what  the  flag  meant  to 
them  for  the  future.  From  lip  to  Hp  and  heart 
to  heart  the  joyful  message  was  carried  on,  until 
Saxon's  blood  tingled  as  when  he  had  led  his 
aero-squadrons  in  fighting  formation  above  the 
poppies  of  Flander's  field,  and  felt  that  at  last 
he  understood  that  immortal  line, — "Mine  eyes 
have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord," 
— and  sensed  the  power  and  spirit  of  an  Ideal 
to  disenthrall  a  world,  as, — 

"All  day  long  that  free  flag  tossed 
Over  the  heads  of  that  Toltec  host. 
Ever  its  bright  folds  rose  and  fell 
O'er  loyal  hearts  that  loved  it  well: 
Till  through  the  hill-gaps  sunset  light 
Shone  over  it  with  a  warm  good-night." 

Saxgn  knew  it  was  one  thing  to  create  en- 
108 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

thusiasm  by  raising  a  flag,  but  a  very  different 
thing  to  inspire  a  nation  to  live  in  steadfast 
courage  and  loyalty  to  the  lofty  ideals  that  flag 
emblazoned  before  an  indifferent  or  hostile  world. 
He  also  knew  the  Mexican  government  would 
mercilessly  undertake  to  strangle  this  new-born 
hope,  and  forever  crush  the  passionate  desire  that 
inspired  it.  The  only  question  was,  how  soon 
would  the  storm  break?  Could  he  get  things 
going  and  some  measure  of  harvest  reaped  before 
Recanza  or  Tucan  or  Lavill  would  fling  forward 
a  hostile  army.  He  also  realized  that  back  of  all 
governments  of  state,  nation  or  race  must  be 
homes,  rich  with  desire  for  best  things,  hearts 
white-heated  with  worthy  ambitions.  He  also 
believed  these  were  latent  in  the  Toltecs;  but  by 
what  process  of  spiritual  alchemy  could  they  be 
translated  into  tremendous,  persistent  action  for 
individual  and  national  upbuilding? 
109 


Dalleszona 

His  first  attempt  was  the  restoration  of  the 
Toltec  dwelling-house.  The  effect  was  magical 
and  overwhelming  in  its  grasp  and  power. 

From  specifications  given  him  by  Iximaga  and 
plans  and  detail  drawings  made  by  Dalleszona, 
Saxon  and  Tullan  fashioned  the  molds,  ran  the 
cement  for  hollow  walls,  and  built  the  bridge- 
head above  for  suction  fans  that  insured  coolness 
during  the  hottest  days;  also  set  the  baths  and 
arranged  the  fountains  for  patios  and  lawns,  in 
accordance  with  ancient  Toltec  custom,  while 
lazy,  unwashed,  half-naked  men  and  slovenly 
women  watched,  smoked,  scoffed  or  half-slept  on 
every  side.  But  when  completed,  and  the  women 
took  the  baths  and  felt  the  cool  fragrance  of  the 
porches,  or  stood  before  the  splendid  mirrors,  the 
spirit  of  civilization  that  wrought  so  mightily  in 
their  ancestors  came  to  life,  and  they  rose  up 
with  such  resistless  energy  and  unconquerable 
110 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

desire  that  the  men  were  swept  into  action;  for 
what  a  woman  really  desires  with  all  her  heart 
she  will  find  some  way  to  get.  Those  women 
suddenly  wanted  houses  with  baths  and  mirrors, 
and  they  got  them. 

The  contagion  spread  to  surrounding  villages, 
and  the  travail  of  Saxon's  soul  was  satisfied. 
Dalleszona  arranged  a  fiesta  for  women,  and 
they  came  by  thousands.  Everyone  saw  the  new 
hogans.  Dalleszona  saw  to  that.  Desire  flamed. 
Good  hogans  called  for  lawns,  lawns  for  clean 
streets,  streets  for  better  roads.  Men  were  put 
to  work  in  the  seventh  treasure,  and  a  stream  of 
gold  came  forth  to  buy  motor  trucks  and  build 
refineries  for  gasoline.  The  waste  way  of  the 
lake  on  Castile  Leon  was  sealed  with  cemient, 
and,  when  rain  clouds  swept  from  lake  to  gulf 
as  in  olden  days,  tractors  were  set  plowing  the 
Sahauro  flats,  and  wheat  fields  that  meant  un- 
lU 


Dalleszona 

limited  foods  soon  yielded  abundant  harvests. 
Every  man  was  allowed  as  much  ground  as  he 
could  work  for  reasonable  harvests,  and  the 
universal  decree  was  enforced  that  "He  who  will 
not  work  shall  not  eat."  But  every  one,  whether 
worker  with  brain  or  worker  with  hands,  skilled 
or  unskilled,  was  deemed  worthy  of  a  living 
wage;  and  all  surplus  of  field,  shop  or  mine  was 
purchased  by  the  national  government  at  a  rea- 
sonable price  and  used  for  the  benefit  of  all. 

Airships  by  scores  and  hundreds  in  all  sizes  for 
carrying  passengers  and  merchandise  were  pro- 
vided with  vacuum  chambers  to  insure  against 
accident,  and  "Safety  First"  became  a  nation's 
watchword. 

Applied  to  conservation  of  human  life  it  pro- 
hibited public  war  or  private  fighting.  In  eco- 
nomics, "Safety  First"  demanded  one  hundred 
per  cent  production  in  all  lines  to  insure  against 
112 


All  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

famine  and  pestilence.  Socially,  it  stressed  edu- 
cation and  conscience  against  ignorance  and 
degeneracy. 

By  means  of  these  same  airships  provisions  of 
all  kinds  were  quickly  distributed  everywhere, 
and  all  surplus  of  grains  and  fruits  carried  to 
warehouses  for  storage  or  shipment. 

To  further  add  to  comfort  and  contentment,  a 
system  of  universal  wireless  telephones  with  re- 
ceiving and  transmitting  device  was  installed  in 
every  human  habitation.  Dictagraphs,  too,  were 
provided  for  all  business  houses.  Schools  were 
provided  for  all  youth ;  reading,  writing,  arith- 
metic and  geography  were  compulsory  for  all  up 
to  twelve  years  of  age.  Beyond  this  every  one 
followed  personal  inclination  as  to  mechanics, 
farming,  manufacturing  and  invention,  etc., 
everything  in  the  realm  of  human  improvement, 
each  according  to  ability,  but  no  idlers,  shirkers 
113 


Dalleszona 

nor  favorites.  Every  one  was  perfectly  free  to 
work  himself  to  the  limit  of  skill  and  industry, 
but  nobody  could  exploit  his  fellow  man  nor 
monopolize  any  commodity  or  resource  that  might 
be  held  for  the  benefit  of  all.  The  only  aristoc- 
racy recognized  was  kindliness  and  courtesy, 
character  and  conscience. 

Government  was  strictly  a  business  proposition, 
— a  billion  dolla'r  corporation,  administered  by 
the  chancellor  or  manager,  with  a  board  of  di- 
rectors, limited  to  one  term  of  efficient  honesty. 
But  under  Dalleszona's  personal  portfolio,  "Wel- 
fare of  the  Nation,"  all  vital  questions  were 
submitted  to  an  electorate  of  the  whole  people, 
and  a  majority  vote  decided  whether  a  thing 
should  be  carried  as  a  "Public  Utility"  or  as 
a  "Private  Enterprise," — an  absolute  democracy 
where  the  people  forever  held  the  sources  of 
power  and  procedure. 

114 


Ati  Interpreter  of  Dr earns 

This  program,  pushed  to  the  very  hmit  of 
Toltec  geographical  boundaries,  soon  attracted 
much  attention  from  all  nations,  but  created  no 
friction  with  the  Mexican  authorities  because  it 
was  not  forced  beyond  territorial  lines.  How- 
ever, Mexicans  on  adjacent  lands,  weary  of  war 
that  brought  them  nothing  but  misery  and  got 
them  nowhere  except  to  the  graveyards,  soon 
began  to  breathe  the  vital  currents  of  this  life- 
giving  contagion,  and  a  large  portion  of  Sonora, 
Chihuahua,  Sinaloa,  Tepic  and  Jalisco  were  in- 
fected with  the  spirit  of  democracy,  and  San  Bias 
and  Manzanillo  had  become  mighty  terminals  for 
steamship  and  airplane  lines,  carrying  millions  of 
dollars  of  merchandise  to  and  from  South  Ameri- 
can ports,  and  the  peon  population  of  these  dis- 
tricts were  openly  soliciting  an  extension  of  Tol- 
tec business  methods  and  governmental  policies. 
In  many  cases  the  Toltecs  were  slow  to  respond 
115 


Dalleszona 

to  these  calls,  and  perhaps  this  very  slowness  had 
made  the  peons  more  insistent.  However,  con- 
siderable revenue  inured  directly  to  the  Mexican 
government,  and  the  Toltecs  were  not  molested. 

Meanwhile,  Saxon's  splendid  interpretation 
of  Toltec  dreams  and  marvelous  administration 
and  demonstration  of  democracy  had  so  thor- 
oughly developed  and  transformed  the  Toltecs 
that  physically,  mentally  and  spiritually  they  were 
beyond  reproach,  and  Saxon  had  resolved  that 
the  next  requisition  for  slaves  in  the  southern 
province  should  not  be  honored.  At  the  same 
time  he  had  no  intention  of  going  into  battle, 
except  as  a  last  resort,  and  even  then  only  on 
the  defensive. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait  for  the  test  in  his 
courage. 

Swift  messengers  soon  arrived,  bearing  intel- 
ligence that  notices  had  been  posted  in  the 
116 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

southern  province  calling  for  three  hundred  boys 
and  two  hundred  girls,  between  fifteen  and 
twenty  years  of  age,  of  Yaki  or  other  Indian 
blood,  for  service  on  the  sisal  plantations  of 
Yucatan. 

The  Mexican  officials,  profiteers  and  employ- 
ment agents  seemed  to  Iceep  account  of  Yaki 
youths,  and  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  remove 
them  from  their  homes,  so  Saxon  determined  to 
appeal  direct  to  the  Mexican  government.  Ac- 
cordingly, messages  of  protest  were  forwarded  to 
Racanza  and  General  Rotanzo,  who  had  acted 
as  military  escort  to  kidnapped  Yakis  on  former 
occasions. 

Insolent,  defiant,  arrogant,  the  answer  was 
returned  by  headquarters  attache: — 


117 


Dalleszona 


"Permanent  Headquarters, 
Grand  Army  of  Mexico. 
"Sir:— 

"Under  instructions  of  Mexican  Governm,ent 
you  are  informed  that  covenants  and  agreements 
are  binding  only  between  equals, 

"The  Yakis  hold  all  lands  and  privileges  of 
tribal  relations  by  sufiferance  of  the  Mexican 
nation  and  are  revocable  at  pleasure  of  said 
government. 

"Of  Toltecs  we  know  nothing  and  care  less. 

"Nine  days  from  to-day,  with  five  thousand 
picked  troops  of  the  regular  army  of  Mexico,  I 
will  march  through  'Terror  Pass'  into  the 
'Valley  of  Death.' 

"You  are  hereby  commanded  to  deliver,   the 
following  morning,  the  five  hundred  Yaki  youths 
at  our  headquarters  there.     If  you  do  not  arrive 
118 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

by  eleven  o'clock  the  next  day,  I  shall  proceed  to 
take  them  as  on  former  trips. 

"Finally,  signed,  Rotanzo". 

Within  twenty-four  hours  of  receipt  of  above, 
Saxon  had  communicated  by  wireless  with  every 
village  in  the  northern  province,  and  ten  thou- 
sand Toltec  youths  between  twenty-five  and 
thirty  years  of  age  were  in  waiting  for  orders  to 
sail  by  aeroplane  for  the  mesa  lands  adjoining 
the  "Valley  of  Death"  on  the  west,  ready  for 
whatever  action  might  be  required. 

The  morning  of  the  tenth  day,  at  precisely  ten 
o'clock  A.M.,  Saxon,  Iximaga,  Dalleszona  and 
Tullan  anchored  the  Mystery  Maid  near  a  clump 
of  manzanite,  and  thirty  minutes  later  a  thou- 
sand airplanes  were  arranged  along  the  western 
slope,  and  Saxon  hoped  by  this  splendid  array  to 
command  annulment  of  the  slavery  order. 
119 


Dalleszona 

Under  a  flag  of  truce,  Iximaga,  Saxon,  Dalles- 
zona and  Tullan  walked  down  to  the  river  bed, 
where  they  were  met  by  General  Rotanzo  and 
staff;  but  the  Mexican  troops  arranged  along  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  river,  could  hear  plainly,  as 
Iximaga  intended  they  should. 

After  formal  introductions   Iximaga  spoke: — 

"Brothers,  and  I  hope  friends,  we  are  here 
pleading  for  peace  and  the  right  to  live.  We  are 
willing  to  concede  lands  and  accumulated  prop- 
erty, personal  belongings, — the  fruit  of  toil, — 
everything  possible.  But  you  are  asking  the  im- 
possible. Our  sons  and  daughters  cannot  be 
bought  nor  sold  nor  exchanged.  Manhood  and 
womanhood  are  more  sacred  to  us  than  gold  or 
gems.  Human  life  cannot  be  treated  as  a  pos- 
session, now  or  ever. 

"Long  centuries  ago  my  people  possessed  this 
land  from  the  Mayan  Gulf  to  the  Mother  Sea. 
120 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

Our  power  was  broken,  our  homes  despoiled. 
We  have  suffered  persecutions  even  unto  death. 
As  long  as  there  were  vacant  lands  to  go  to,  we 
went  to  them.  Now  there  is  no  land  for  us  to 
go  to.  We  miust  live  here  or  perish.  We  desire 
to  live  in  peace;  according  to  all  others  the  same 
rights  we  claim  for  ourselves.  We  do  not  covet 
your  lands.  As  long  as  your  troops  remain  on 
the  eastern  side  of  this  'River  of  Death,'  you 
are  safe.  If  you  come  to  our  side  to  take  our 
people,  we  shall  resist  to  the  limit  of  power,  the 
last  ounce  of  blood  and  body.  With  peace  and 
good  will  there  is  abundance  for  all.  Without 
these  there  is  nothing  for  anyone." 

As  Iximaga  ceased  speaking,  Saxon  stepped 
forward  to  address  the  soldiers  on  the  river  bank. 
At  sight  of  his  rugged  form  and  clean-cut  face, 
the  cry  of  "Gringo!  Gringo!  Americano!"  was 
shouted  down  the  lines,  and  wildest  excitement 
121 


Dalleszona 

prevailed  for  a  few  minutes,  then  utter  quiet  and 
closest  attention. 

"Fellow-citizens  of  a  new  world,  I  was  born 
on  American  soil.  My  parents  are  from  Asia. 
For  two  years  I  have  battled  in  Europe  for 
humanity  and  democratic  civilization.  Now  I 
have  cast  my  lot  for  life  or  for  death  with  the 
Toltecs,  and  am  doing  my  utmost  to  help  build 
up  a  democracy  founded  on  the  proposition  of 

Equal  Rights  to  All,  Special  Privileges  to  None, 

"Hear  me!  For  six  thousand  years  this  old 
world  has  tried  to  settle  its  difficulties  by  war, — 
fists,  clubs,  knives,  arrows,  lances,  guns  and 
deadly  gas.  The  farther  we  go  along  that  road, 
the  worse  for  all.     Why  not  try  another  way? 

"My  experience  in  Europe  convinces  me  that 
our  trouble  comes  from  false  leaders.  The 
122 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

world's  armies  of  the  last  five  years  left  to  them- 
selves never  would  have  begun  slaughter.  If  the 
kings,  czars,  emperors,  kaisers,  sultans,  princes 
and  royal  blood  had  been  forced  into  the  first 
wave  of  battle,  there  would  have  been  no  war. 
I  believe  your  ofiicers  to-day  are  to  blame  for  this 
battle  array.  If  they  had  to  lead,  instead  of 
sending  you  into  battle,  there  would  be  no  battle. 

"I  challenge  you !  Require  j'our  General  and 
stafif  to  be  the  first  to  cross  this  Valley  of  Death. 
Why  should  you  be  sent  to  slaughter  while  they 
remain  in  safety?  You  have  all  to  lose,  nothing 
to  gain." 

Then  turning  to  the  Mexican  general  and 
aides : — 

"I  promise  you,  gentlemen,  that  if  any  blood 

is  spilled  to-day,   yours  will  be   the  first.     The 

people   I   stand  with   will   never   try  to  enlarge 

their  present  land  holdings  by  conquest;  but,  if 

123 


Dalleszona 

you  climb  the  western  bank  of  this  'River  of 
Death,'  every  element  of  destruction  we  possess 
will  be  brought  to  bear  to  preserve  the  lives  and 
honor  of  our  sons  and  daughters. 

"You  have  my  answer.     I  am  done." 

Then  the  unexpected  happened. 

Throwing  aside  her  aviator's  hood  and  wine- 
colored  reboso,  Dalleszona  stood  before  the 
mighty  throng,  her  hair  in  shining  braids,  face 
radiant  with  high  resolve,  eyes  aflame  and  hands 
outspread  in  tragic  appeal, — a  veritable  flesh-and- 
blood  Goddess  of  Liberty  clothed  in  shimmering 
white, 

"Fathers,  husbands,  sons,  brothers,  lovers  all, 
I  challenge  you  to  think  of  your  mothers,  wives, 
daughters,  sweethearts,  and  ask  your  souls  what 
they  would  have  you  do  in  this  rugged  and  tre- 
mendous hour.  In  the  name  of  the  womanhood 
of  a  world, — that  suffers  first  and  most  in  war, — 
124 


Jn  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

I  ask  you  to  throw  down  your  guns,  forsake  the 
paths  of  slaughter,  murder  and  slavery,  and  make 
glad  and  happy  this  garden  land  of  God,  and 
lift  high  before  a  war-weary  world  the  white 
flag  of  Peace  and  Good  Will  among  men.  I 
ask  you  to  place,  here  and  now,  the  cornerstone 
of  a  civilization  unstained  by  human  blood,  the 
foundations  of  a  democratic  brotherhood  which 
shall  inaugurate  an  era  of  progress  as  enduring 
as  the  light  of  fixed  stars,  as  far-reaching  as  the 
longing  of  human  hearts.  Oh,  I  pray  you,  sol- 
diers of  this  marvelous  land,  do  not  let  the  roll 
of  drum  nor  blast  of  bugle,  or  any  other  call  to 
organized  loot  and  slaughter,  sound  sweeter  in 
your  souls  than  the  songs  of  happy  wives  and 
mothers,  or  the  voices  of  children  playing  where 
the  oleanders  bloom  in  the  valley  and  pome- 
granate ripen  on  the  hillsides.  Love,  cherish, 
honor  and  protect  the  homes  of  this  heaven-blest 
125 


Dalleszona 

land,  and  the  womanhood  of  a  world  will  call 
you  blessed,  and  you  shall  be — you  shall  be 
blessed." 

Saxon  had  not  known  of  her  intention  to 
speak;  but,  as  he  listened  to  her  persuasive 
appeal  and  caught  the  inspiring  thrill  of  her 
infectious  enthusiasm,  he  felt  she  had  never 
appeared  so  divinely  fair  as  now,  in  utter  self- 
forgetfulness,  in  an  hour  fraught  with  possibili- 
ties of  personal  danger,  pleading  the  inalienable 
rights  of  womanhood,  to  Life,  Liberty  and  the 
Pursuit  of  Happiness  in  the  homes  of  a  world. 

What  the  influence  of  her  appeal  upon  the 
general  and  staf?  might  be  he  could  not  hazard 
even  a  guess;  but,  as  they  returned  to  the 
Mystery  Maid  on  the  western  slopes,  there  was 
shouting  and  a  babel  of  voices  among  the  troops. 

With  powerful  binoculars  he  could  see  the 
officers  riding  and  gesticulating  along  the  fighting 
126 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

lines,  and  with  a  strong  but  delicate  dictaphone 
caught  the  drift  of  tumultuous  excitement. 

Fully  convinced  that  the  officers  and  probably 
part  of  the  troops  would  make  some  attempt  to 
enforce  the  message  of  the  government,  Saxon 
passed  orders  to  the  crews  of  a  hundred  bombing 
planes  to  follow  the  movements  of  the  Mystery 
Maid. 

At  a  quarter  past  eleven  o'clock  General  Ro- 
tanzo  and  about  one  hundred  aides  dropped  into 
the  river  bed,  and  a  few  minutes  later  appeared 
upon  the  western  bank  on  Toltec  soil.  At  the 
same  time  about  a  thousand  troops  marched  in 
fighting  formation  down  into  the  river  bed  and 
halted  there. 

Saxon  knew  the  moment  for  action  had  ar- 
rived. Without  a  moment's  hesitation  he  set  the 
De  Haviland's  motors  whirring,  and,  as  the 
Mystery  Maid  breasted  the  air,  a  hundred  bomb- 
127 


Dalleszona 

ing  planes  swung  into  fighting  formation  with 
flashing  of  wings  and  ^roar  of  propeller  blades 
terrible  j'et  thrilling  to  see. 

From  boyhood  Saxon  had  been  a  lover  of 
peace ;  but,  whenever  forced  to  fight,  his  program 
was  to  fight  as  hard  as  possible,  and  this  in- 
struction was  now  given  to  the  crews  of  the 
bombing  planes. 

Saxon's  plan  of  battle  was  to  do  all  possible 
damage  to  the  invaders  of  Toltec  soil,  but  in  no 
case  to  carry  battle  on  to  Mexican  soil,  so  he 
hurled  his  aero-squadrons  in  sets  of  four,  at  right 
angles  to  the  line  of  Rotanzo's  advance.  Passing 
beyond  the  line  of  advance,  the  odd  numbers 
swung  to  the  right,  even  to  the  left,  each  execut- 
ing a  double  Immelmann  turn  and  again  joining 
the  attacking  column,  so  that  to  the  watchers  in 
the  river  bed  there  seemed  to  be  an  absolutely 
endless  supply  of  planes. 
128 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

Like  fiery  thunderbolts  these  submarines  of  the 
aerial  ocean  shot  forward  with  headlights  of 
blazing  power  and  red  reflectors  swung  from 
rudder  bands,  as  spectre  hosts  from  the  pits  of 
the  doomed,  each  manned  by  a  mechanician,  pilot 
and  two  bombers. 

At  signal  from  Saxon  the  timed  bombs  filled 
with  bullets,  brimstone  and  T.  N.  T.  were 
dropped  from  the  pits,  quickly  followed  by 
chemical  explosive  bombs  known  only  to  Toltcc 
laboratories.  Tinue  bombs  bursting  in  air  as  well 
as  on  the  ground  created  havoc  among  the  gene- 
ral's staff;  but,  when  the  chemicals  struck  the 
ground  and  became  sheets  of  flame  and  rivers  of 
fire  upon  the  earth,  the  destruction  was  appalling. 
Literally,  it  was  "Bullets  and  Brimstone,"  "Hail 
and  Hell."  Horses  plunged  about  in  wild  dis- 
order, clothes  of  the  officers  and  trappings  of 
saddles  caught  fire,  and  horses  and  riders  fled 
129 


Dalleszona 

toward  the  river  bed  as  living  torches.  But  the 
left  wing  of  Saxon's  air-legions  had  dropped  a 
line  of  bombs  between  them  and  the  river  bank. 
Retreat  was  impossible.  Also  in  addition  to 
bombs  and  flame,  long  lines  or  ribbons  of  in- 
flammable films  set  with  time  fuse,  that  pro- 
pelled themselves  as  fierce  serpents  through  the 
air  or  along  the  ground  streamed  from  the 
cavalry  of  the  clouds.  At  regular  intervals  in 
these  films  were  acid  capsules  that  struck  and 
burst  as  with  stings  of  scorpions.  Earth  and  air 
became  a  maelstrom  of  destruction,  cauldron  of 
death,  a  veritable  inferno  in  which  human  beings 
of  flesh  and  blood  could  not  live.  Not  a  single 
oflScer  escaped. 

Transfixed  with  horror  as  they  gazed  upon  the 

awful  scene,   the   troops  held  their  lines  intact 

until   every   ofl^cer   had    gone   down   to   rise   no 

more,  then  consternation  seized  them,  and  they 

130 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

fled  in  broken  ranks  and  wildest  confusion  toward 
"Terror  Pass,"  closely  followed  by  the  soldiers 
who  had  entered  the  river  bed. 

The  Toltec  victory  was  absolute  and  complete. 
In  fact,  the  fleeing,  panic-stricken  troops  carried 
such  tales  of  "a  sea  of  fire  mingled  with  blood," 
that  the  Mexican  government  could  not  secure 
volunteers  nor  force  drafted  men  to  enter  the 
Yaki  lands,  and  the  Toltecs  had  peace  and  safety 
as  never  before  since  the  Aztecs  pillaged  their 
cities  and  the  Spaniards  robbed  their  temples  and 
homes. 

Dalleszona  sat  at  Saxon's  side  through  all  the 
battle,  cheering  him  on,  and  rejoiced  at  the  de- 
liverance of  her  people ;  but  her  woman's  heart 
was  full  of  sorrow  and  tenderness  for  the  Mexi- 
can leaders  who  perished  so  miserably  in  the 
"Valley  of  Death." 

At  her  request  all  the  bodies  were  carried 
131 


Dalleszona 

across  the  river  channel  and  given  decent  burial 
in  Mexican  soil,  while  she  chanted  in  sobbing 
tones  that  wondrously  sweet  melody  of  the 
Toltecs  for  departing  souls. 

When  they  had  returned  to  Truxlan,  Iximaga 
and  Tullan  went  direct  to  the  Administration 
Building  to  set  the  automatic  wireless  working, 
so  the  homes  all  over  the  nation  might  have  the 
cheer  of  the  victorious  action  of  the  Toltec 
legions  in  Death  Valley,  and  carry  to  the  south- 
ern provinces  the  glad  assurance  that  never  more 
v.ould  their  sons  and  daughters  be  sold  into 
slavery. 

Dalleszona  was  so  quiet  and  thoughtful  that 
Saxon  took  her  for  a  stroll  in  the  capitol  gardens, 
in  hope  of  helping  her  to  forget  the  awful  battle 
scenes  that  had  so  shocked  her  sensitive  spirit 
and    still    threw    its    shadows    across    her    soul. 


132 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

Scarcely  were  they  seated  in  a  fragrant  pergola, 
when  she  turned  to  him  with  intense  earnestness 
and  said : — 

"Oh,  Mr.  Saxon,  I  thank  you  with  all  my 
heart  and  soul  for  the  splendid  deliverance  you 
have  accomplished  for  my  people  to-day  and 
through  the  j^ears.  And  I  am  praying  there  will 
be  no  more  battles,  ever,  in  this  fair  land  of  ours. 
But  that  is  not  enough,  and  cannot  be,  unless  the 
rest  of  the  world  shall  be  led  to  the  blessings  of 
peace  and  brotherhood.  I  want  you  to  promise 
me  that,  if  you  are  elected  chancellor  at  the 
coming  elections,  j^ou  will  immediately  enter 
upon  a  program  of  world-wide  peace  education. 
Begin  with  the  children  in  the  schools  of  all 
nations  with  songs  and  movies  that  shall  em- 
blazon the  spirit  of  love  and  brotherhood  every- 
where.    Carry    your    peace    propaganda    to    the 


133 


Dalleszona 

mothers  of  every  tribe  and  tongue,  and  inspire 
them  with  the  mighty  truth  that  it  is  infinitely 
wiser  to  invest  millions  and  millions  in  growing 
a  race  of  peace-lovers  than  to  spend  billions  in 
gatling  guns  and  battleships  to  shoot  bankruptcy 
and  murder  around  the  world.  Fling  your  air- 
squadrons — white-winged  messengers  of  peaceful 
conquest — across  the  seas,  and  with  your  electric 
films  write  upon  the  very  heavens  there,  "Thou 
shalt  not  kill."  I  believe  this  to  be  the  heroic, 
beautiful  task  for  which  America's  greatest  na- 
tion has  been  given  unlimited  wealth  and  power, 
and  is  now  called  upon  to  inaugurate.  I  assure 
you  the  womanhood  of  the  world  will  support 
you  with  all  her  matchless  powers,  and  is  ready 
now  to  fling  herself  with  deathless  loyalty  into 
this  immortal  campaign." 

For  a   moment   Saxon  was  staggered   by  the 
immensity  of   the   task;   but,   as   he   caught   the 
134 


An  Interpreter  of  Dreams 

splendor  and  sweep  of  Dalleszona's  vision,  hu- 
man limitations  seemed  to  melt  away,  and  he 
promised  all  that  he  was,  or  might  be,  to  the 
girl's  inspiring  call. 


135 


Dalleszona 

CHAPTER  VII 
ToLTEc  Trails 

By  old  trail  and  bold  trail,  swinging  toward  the 

dawn  ; 
By  sky-trail  and  cloud-trail,  ever  luring  on; 
By   heart-power   and    soul-power   only    may   we 

climb 
The  new  trail,  the  true  trail,  to  life  and   love 

sublime. 

How  much  of  cheer  and  forgetfulness  of  war's 
terrific  scenes  the  hour  in  the  park  had  brought 
to  Dalleszona,  Saxon  could  not  know;  but  his 
own  soul  was  refreshed  and  strengthened  beyond 
measure.  Still,  he  was  not  in  a  mood  to  attend 
to  the  affairs  of  ordinary  routine,  so  did  not 
return  to  the  administration  ofiices  that  evening. 
136 


Toltec  2' rails 

The  fascination  of  the  tremendous  program  of 
world  hfe,  peace  and  universal  brotherhood,  out- 
lined by  Dalleszona,  thrilled  and  thralled  his 
soul  with  possibilities  almost  divine  through  the 
twilight  hour,  and  held  him  sleepless  far  into  the 
night.  Even  the  next  morning  the  beacon  lights 
she  had  kindled  still  glowed  along  the  shores  of 
the  Unknown  with  inspiring  grandeur. 

Her  genius  and  enthusiasm  had  so  completely 
possessed  him  that  he  resolved  to  ask  her  to  go 
with  him  for  a  visit  to  the  Old  Garden,  with 
its  treasures  of  art  and  romance  of  American 
antiquities. 

He  found  her  in  the  fragrant  pergola,  busy 
with  some  rolls  of  parchment,  but  clothed  in 
aviation  garb. 

"I  knew  you  would  come,"  she  said,  "and 
have  luncheon  prepared.  Oh,  you  men !  How 
you  boast  of  persistency  and  steadfast  holding  to 
137 


Dalleszona 

business  and  affairs  of  state;  but,  just  the  same, 
let  a  woman  disclose  the  fringe  of  a  new  fashion 
in  politics  or  religion,  philosophy,  art  or  love, 
and  you  are  completely  consumed  by  curiosity. 
Really,  just  had  to  come,  didn't  you?  Now,  sir, 
I'm  laying  a  wager  that  you  did  not  sleep  three 
hours  last  night.  Come,  now,  do  you  really  feel 
equal  to  an  excursion  in  cloudland?" 

"Well,"  he  smiled  back,  "I  always  have  some 
governmental  affairs  to  wrestle  with!" 

"Affairs  of  state!  Yes,  and  you  solved  every 
one  of  them,  too,  so  have  nothing  to  do  to-day 
except  joy  sailing." 

"Well,  we  will  let  it  go  at  that,  so  you  may 
bring  the  Mystery  Maid  around,  and  I'll  show 
you  a  new  standard  of  holiday  that  will  put  a 
crimp  on  all  your  stock  of  curiosity  and  former 
vacations.  I  promise  you,  here  and  now,  we  are 
off  for  a  flight  which  will  make  you  forget  the 
138 


Toltec  Trails 

flavor  of  any  affairs  of  state  that  j^ou  ever  con- 
jured on  Toltec  soil." 

Dalleszona  took  the  wheel,  and  soon  had  the 
powerful  De  Haviland  speeding  fast  and  high 
toward  the  "Land  of  Unclouded  Day." 

"Now,  ]\Ir.  Chancellor,  we  are  really  on  the 
way,  and  I'm  going  to  show  you  historic  treas- 
ures that  will  cause  you  to  see  visions  and  dream 
dreams  for  centuries  to  come;  for  I  expect  some- 
time in  the  great  onrushing  future,  in  realms 
hcyond  the  shores  of  earth,  your  immortal  law- 
giver, Moses,  will  appoint  you  to  a  place  with 
his  corps  of  celestial  engineers,  and  you  will  be 
pulling  planets  into  position  and  arranging  solar 
systems  in  space,  or,  perchance,  piloting  blazing 
mieteors  along  the  shores  of  that  vast  abyss  where 
power  creative  never  yet  has  energized  and 
existence  still  sleeps  in  the  realms  of  Possibility. 

"You  know,  in  all  ages,  every  nation,  race  and 
139 


Dalleszona 

people  have  had  great  leaders, — philanthropists, 
prophets,  lawgivers,  because  that  is  the  way  the 
Eternal  works  out  human  progress. 

"Nearly  two  thousand  j^ears  ago  the  Toltecs 
were  transfigured  and  glorified  by  an  immortal 
genius,  Cholula  Chimhueves;  and  to-day  I  will 
show  you  his  indestructible  library,  the  greatest 
of  earth,  and  read  for  you  some  lines  of  his  im- 
mortal wisdom,  which  will  yet  blaze  and  brighten 
across  our  thousand  years  of  darkness." 

As  Saxon  listened  to  this  wild  promise,  seem- 
ingly impossible  of  fulfillment,  a  wireless  S.  O.  S. 
flashed  across  heart  and  brain, — "This  woman  is 
lunatic.  The  battle  of  the  clouds  of  yesterday 
has  wrecked  her  mind." 

However,  her  ability  to  control  the  De  Havi- 

land  was  perfect,  and  he  decided  to  fall  in  with 

her  mood  so  long  as  life  AVas  not  endangered ; 

but  it  was  not  any  pleasure  to  feel  that  he  was 

140 


To  I  tec  Trails 

being  hurled  through  the  air  at  above  a  hundred 
miles  an  hour,  with  a  maniac  at  the  wheel. 

Meanwhile,  she  had  gradually  increased  speed 
until,  with  wide-open  throttle  and  reverse  lever 
in  working  position,  the  IVlj'stery  Maid  was  cer- 
tainly attaining  a  speed  of  one  hundred  twenty- 
five  miles  an  hour,  headed,  due  north,  and  already 
far  past  the  Garden  of  Castile  Leon. 

As  they  neared  the  international  boundary,  she 
turned  to  him  with  blazing  eyes,  and  said : 
"Please  take  my  binoculars  and  watch  closely  for 
your  Uncle  Sam's  patrol.  I  do  not  want  to  break 
any  international  rules  of  etiquette,  but  we  must 
cross  the  border;  and  I  do  not  want  to  be  ques- 
tioned nor  delayed  by  Custom  House  officials 
and  red  tape." 

Scarcely  had  she  finished  speaking,  when  Saxon 
discovered  several  scout  planes  already  in  the  air 
and  only  a  few  miles  ahead,  but  flying  low  under 
141 


Dalleszona 

what  seemed  to  be  a  desert  storm  cloud  extend- 
ing far  eastward  from  No  Man's  Mountain. 

As  they  neared  the  border,  two  of  the  planes 
signalled  danger;  but  Dalleszona  answered  by 
throwing  the  beak  of  the  De  Haviland  upward 
to  an  angle  that  would  hurl  them  into  the  storm 
cloud,  now  blazing  with  electrical  wrath  and 
booming  with  omnipotent  voices. 

Undoubtedly  the  patrol  divined  her  intention, 
for  they  quickly  formed  a  "V"  shaped  pocket, 
with  purpose  to  force  a  landing.  'Twas  of  no 
avail.  They  had  underestimated  her  speed,  and 
the  terrific  rush  of  Dalleszona's  craft  carried  her 
above  the  topmost  plane,  but  by  such  close  margin 
that  the  wing  of  the  scout  plane  was  crushed 
by  the  "tail  skid"  of  the  Mystery  Maid,  and 
swirled  to  the  ground,  while  the  De  Haviland 
plunged  into  the  cloud  and  was  lost  to  view  of 
the  other  patrols. 

142 


Toltec  Trails 

Chain  lightning  blazed  in  javelin  shafts  all 
about  them,  while  electric  halos  played  around 
propeller  blades  and  dropped  from  rudder  bands 
in  flaming  grandeur  like  unto  a  comet's  train. 

For  a  brief  moment  Saxon  felt  the  end  had 
come,  but  sent  up  a  swift  prayer  for  some  sort 
of  deliverance  from  immediate  destruction. 

Only  a  moment  thus ;  then  he  glanced  at  Dal- 
leszona,  and  his  soul  was  quieted  forevermore. 
Never  again  could  he  know  fear ;  for  back  of  the 
eyes  of  lambent  flame,  beyond  the  veil  of  her 
flesh  and  blood,  he  saw  the  woman's  soul,  keen 
as  electric  fire,  but  sweet,  pure,  true,  clean,  as 
she  made  her  appeal  to  the  heart  of  the  Great 
Spirit.  Conscious  of  the  integrity  of  her  inten- 
tions, perfect  love  had  cast  out  all  fear. 

The  contagion  of  Dalleszona's  intrepid  spirit, 
fearless  as  divine  power,  courageous  as  immortal 


143 


Dalleszona 

wisdom,  submerged  his  spirit  with  a  sense  of 
infinite  trust. 

With  smiling  face  and  steady  hand  she  threw 
the  wheel  hard  over  to  the  left,  the  plane  shot 
through  and  above  the  cloud,  and  with  un- 
diminished speed  held  directly  westward  and  at 
right  angles  to  their  former  course. 

Then,  turning  a  radiant  face  upon  Saxon,  she 
said : — 

"Mr.  Chancellor,  this  flight  is  in  answer  to 
S.  O.  S.  from  world  civilization,  and  the  avenues 
and  cloud  trails  of  the  Great  Spirit  of  the  Toltecs 
must  ever  be  open  and  free  for  his  loving 
children." 

As  they  neared  Yuma,  she  again  headed  north- 
ward, and,  passing  beyond  the  cloud  barrage,  was 
sighted  by  other  patrols,  and  there  was  nothing 
to  do  but  climb;  and  climb  she  did,  in  ever 
widening  circles,  until  the  aerometer  registered 
144 


Toltec  Trails 

three  thousand  fathoms  and  the  binoculars  re- 
vealed the  scout  planes  returning  to  their  base. 

Again,  with  a  contented  smile,  she  said,  "Mr. 
Saxon,  what  we  see  and  do  to-day  is  strictly  our 
own  business,  not  your  Uncle  Sam's.  We  shall 
not  infringe  upon  his  rights  nor  harm  his  pos- 
sessions, and  I  propose  to  come  and  go  to-day 
without  hail  or  farewell  from  anybody." 

Still  northward  she  held  her  course  until  the 
Salt  River  and  Bill  Williams  Fork  were  crossed, 
then  she  landed  on  a  sandy  stretch  screened  by 
willo\vs  on  one  side  and  frowning  clififs  on  the 
other,  on  the  California  side,  some  three  miles 
below  Topock,  and  the  great  Santa  Fe  bridge 
across  the  Colorado  River,  twelve  miles  below 
Needles. 

Following  a  rugged  path,  Dalleszona  led  the 
way  to  a  broad,  rock-strewn  mesa,  where  a  sight 
greeted  Saxon's  eyes  that  startled  and  amazed 
145 


Dalleszona 

him,  even  as  the  record  it  will  some  day  reveal 
shall  startle  and  thrill  a  world  of  science  and 
history. 

He  could  scarcely  believe  his  own  eyes,  as  he 
gazed  upon  acres  and  acres  of  smooth-faced 
boulders  and  slabs  of  malapi,  engraved  with 
closely  written,  beautiful  hieroglyphics. 

With  a  wave  of  her  hand  toward  the  writing, 
Dalleszona  turned  to  Saxon  and  said:  "Mr. 
Saxon,  here  are  the  records  of  America's  ancient 
civilization,  etched  by  the  pens  of  secretaries 
under  the  personal  direction  and  supervision  of 
our  own  great  historian  and  lawgiver,  Cholula 
Chimhueves,  mightiest  mind  and  heart  of  Toltec's 
golden  age, — a  record  more  perfect  and  complete 
than  all  the  cuneiform  tablets  and  picture-writing 
rolls  of  Babylon  and  Egypt  combined,  for  here 
you  see  a  perfect  system  of  shorthand  that,  if 


146 


Toltec  Trails 

fully    written    out,    would    cover    hundreds    of 
acres." 

"How  many  workers  and  how  long  did  it  take 
to  do  this  seemingly  impossible  thing?"  Saxon 
asked. 

Dalleszona  laughed  in  happy,  glad-hearted 
fashion,  as  she  replied :  "Not  so  long  as  you  might 
think,  for  the  simple  reason  that  Chimhueves  was 
an  analytical  chemist  and  applied  an  acid  paste 
to  all  surfaces,  which  practically  smelted  the  fiber 
of  the  rocks  until  the  writing  was  done.  Then 
the  paste  was  washed  off  and  another  acid  applied, 
which  chilled  and  hardened  as  water  sets  cement, 
thereby  rendering  the  record  imperishable  for  all 
time.  It  was  this  treatment  that  gives  it  the 
appearance  of  having  sometime  passed  through 
volcanic  fire." 

"Have  your  people  preserved  the  key  to  this 


147 


Dalleszona 

writing?  Can  you  translate  what  is  recorded 
here?" 

"Assuredly.  Come,  let  us  pass  over  to  the 
extreme  southwestern  corner  of  this  wide-spread- 
ing page,  and  I  will  translate  some  bits  of  verse 
at  the  very  beginning." 

From  the  folds  of  her  reboso,  Dalleszona  took 
a  roll  of  parchment,  gray  with  age,  but  the  char- 
acters traced  upon  it  were  beyond  question  the 
same  as  those  etched  on  the  stones  at  his  feet. 

With  a  few  words  of  explanation  she  gave  him 
the  key  to  the  whole  system,  then  read  the 
following : — 

"Cozmotl's  Song 
"Earth-quaked  and  thunder-riven, 
Wide-flung,  her  mountains  stand. 
Deep,  beneath  her  vales  are  hidden 
Silver-reefs  and  golden  sands. 
148 


Toltec  Trails 

Out  across  her  sagey  washes 
Floats  a  veil  of  golden  mist, 
Trailing  from  her  peaks  and  ridges 
By  the  sun  eternal  kist. 

"Till  the  soul  is  lost  in  wonder. 
Fadeless  scenes  of  phantom  splendor 
She  can  quickly  summon  from  the  realm  of 

legends  bold. 
Facts  and  fancies  she  will  render 
Of  romances  strong  and  tender 
That  alone  in  voiceless  language  of  the  desert 

can  be  told. 

"O  land  beneath  the  setting  sun, 
More  fair  than  sage  or  poet's  dream, 
Creative  power  new  glories  won 
Where  bright  thy  stars  through  azure  gleam. 


149 


Dalleszona 

Thy  treasures  great  no  mortal  tongue 
Can  clear  describe  nor  fairly  name. 
O'er  swinging  seas,  when  earth  was  young, 
To  thy  fair  shores  Cozmotl  came. 

"To  peace  and  progress  valleys  woke. 
With  holy  love  and  freedom's  flame 
Earth's  highest  civilization  spoke 
Where  templed-homes  gave  God  acclaim. 
From  Mayan  Gulf  to  Mother  Sea, 
From  tropic  strand  to  snow-clad  height, — 
Enriched  and  robed  with  mystery, 
Man's  garden  land  of  pure  delight. 

"Thy  azure  dome  with  starlight  gemmed, 
Foundations  set  with  crystalled  gold; 
Thy  valleys  girt  and  diademmed 
With  beauty  marvelous  to  behold, — 

150 


Toltec  Trails 

All  lands,  all  realms,  must  yield  to  thee 
Transcendent  plan,  immortal  clime, — 
Earth's  wonderland  from  sea  to  sea, 
God's  masterpiece  for  earth  and  time." 

For  hours  they  wandered  through  this  maze  of 
writing,  translating  rare  passages  here  and  there, 
as  fancy  prompted. 

With  three  of  these,  the  story  of  the  Cliff 
Dwellers,  petrified  forests,  and  buried  cities  of 
Arizona,  Saxon  was  intensely  interested,  and 
plied  Dalleszona  with  questions  concerning  them 
all  through  the  luncheon  hour. 

When  that  noontide  hour,  so  full  of  ineffable 
sweetness  for  both,  was  ended,  the  Mystery  Maid 
circled  above  the  red-silted,  mighty  river,  and  at 
an  altitude  of  two  thousand  fathoms  fled  south- 
ward toward  the  wooded  heights  of  Castile  Leon. 

As  they  rose  above  the  historic  scene,  forever- 
151 


Dalleszona 

more  enshrined  in  the  happiness  and  joy  of  perfect 
companionship,  Saxon  looked  closely  into  Dal- 
leszona's  eyes,  now  illumined  with  unspeakable 
gladness,  and  said:  "My  very  best  friend,  what- 
ever the  future  may  hold  for  your  people,  or  for 
you  and  me,  this  day  will  always  be  a  beginnin.:; 
of  years  for  me.  You  have  made  good  your 
promise:  I  shall  evermore  see  visions  and  dream 
dreams  in  all  my  waking  hours.  And,  oh,  so 
sweet  shall  be  my  dreams!" 

Her  voice  was  low,  full-throated  and  rich  vv^ith 
sweetest  music  to  his  heart,  as  she  replied :  "The 
half  has  not  been  revealed.  You  have  had  only 
a  glimpse  of  the  historical  records  of  my  nation's 
achievement.  Now  we  are  going  to  see  the 
masterpieces  of  genius,  the  charm  of  home  life, 
the  glory  of  personal  character  and  privilege  that 
alone  can  make  a  race  or  nation  worth  while.  I 
will  show  you  the  fullness  of  art,  engravings  of 
152 


Toltec  Trails 

gold,  etchings  of  silver,  rainbow  prisms  and 
cylinders  of  diamond  glass,  polishing  of  precious 
gems,  origin  of  standard  of  measurements,  time, 
power,  also  laboratory  processes  for  determining 
human  dispositions,  will  power  and  emotions." 

The  old  garden  was  a  riot  of  bloom  and 
languorous  charm.  Resting  in  its  cool  retreats  or 
strolling  along  its  gravelled  walks,  Saxon  was 
quite  willing  to  enjoy  as  long  as  possible  the 
atmosphere  of  mystery  and  romance ;  but  Dalles- 
zona's  spirit,  still  under  the  spell  of  the  world- 
builder's  vision,  soon  led  him  to  the  bougainvillaea 
draperied  cliffs,  where  the  guard  rolled  aside  the 
massive  jasper  doors  and  they  entered  the  granite 
corridors. 

When  candles  were  lighted,  Saxon  rolled  aside 
the  chalcedony  disc,  and  they  passed  into  the  hall 
of  Toltec  Immortals. 

Halfway  down  the  long  rows  of  illustrious 
153 


Dalleszona 

dead  Dalleszona  paused  before  a  form  that  was 
still  majestic  and  noble. 

"This,  Mr.  Saxon,  is  all  that  human  hands 
could  preserve  of  our  mighty  Chimhueves." 

Long  and  silently  Saxon  gazed  upon  the  mas- 
sive shoulders  and  magnificent  head,  broad  and 
high-domed  above  a  kindly,  kingly  face,  trying  to 
see  him  as  he  must  have  been  in  the  heyday  of 
his  power,  till  a  sign  from  Dalleszona  caused  him 
to  turn  to  a  woman's  form  across  the  aisle. 

"This  is  our  Queen  Mother,  Rozemma  Man- 
zillura, — scholar,  artist,  constructive  architect 
and  genii  of  Toltec  splendor  and  renown.  This 
wornan  could  make  the  marble  speak  and  cause 
the  water  to  murmur  down  the  painted  landscape. 
She  filled  the  hearts  of  men  and  women  with  an 
enthusiasm  so  overmastering  and  overwhelming 
in  the  splendor  and  sweep  of  its  deathless  passion, 
that  a  whole  race  was  lifted  to  highest  ideals  and 
154 


Toltec  Trails 

committed  irrevocably  to  kindliness,  truth  and 
honor.  It  was  her  great  heart  that  inspired  a 
nation  with  a  love  for  the  beautiful ;  her  match- 
less brain  that  devised  a  system  of  measurement, 
power  and  time  that  made  order  and  progress 
possible  and  launched  a  mixed  multitude  of 
people  on  the  currents  of  civilized  national  life. 
Her  hands  first  traced  the  outlines  of  written 
language  you  saw  in  the  Chimhuevcs  library." 

What  Saxon  saw  was  a  woman's  form  and  face 
of  marvelous  beauty,  possibly  fifty  years  of  age, 
— not  a  hideous  shrivelled  mummy,  but  a  perfect 
physical  woman  done  in  rose  pink  satin  spar,  so 
lifelike  that  he  almost  expected  her  to  speak  to 
him. 

"But,  Dalleszona,  what  magic  is  this?  Do 
you  mean  to  tell  me  that  your  people  were  able 
to  defy  the  corroding  hands  of  time,  or  am  1 


155 


Dalleszona 

hypnotized  into  seeing  what  might  he,  rather  than 
what  is?" 

"Come  with  me,"  she  said,  "to  the  Hall  of 
Records,  and  I  will  translate  Rosemrna's  memory 
tablets  and  answer  all  your  questions." 

Past  flashing  gems  and  crystalled  columns  she 
led  him  far  down  the  jewelled  corridor  of  this 
underground  palace,  and  seated  him  upon  a  divan 
of  polished  chalcedony  inlaid  with  pearls,  while 
from  a  nearby  table  she  brought  a  medallion  of 
beaten  gold  more  than  two  feet  in  diameter, 
richly  engraved  with  shorthand  writing,  and, 
sitting  beside  him,  began  to  translate  the  record, 
when  he  interrupted  her. 

"Please  pardon  me,  Dalleszona,  for  I'm  sure 
the  story  you  have  there  is  wonderfully  interest- 
ing, and  the  medallion  itself  is  perfectly  mar- 
velous; but  just  now  I  cannot  get  away  from 
seeing  and  thinking  of  your  Queen  Mother, 
156 


Toltec  Trails 

Rozemma.  Her  body  is  so  perfectly  preserved, 
I  would  scarcely  have  been  surprised  more  if  she 
had  spoken.  Tell  me,  Dalleszona,  by  what 
divine  power  or  art  did  your  ancestors  do  this 
thing?" 

"Yes,  I'll  gladly  tell  you  all  about  this,  though 
it  is  the  saddest  passage  in  the  history  of  the 
Toltecs,  and  all  of  us  try  to  keep  as  far  away 
from  it  as  possible, 

"Rozemma  died  very  suddenly,  probably  from 
heart-failure  brought  on  by  over-exertion  during 
a  gala-day  celebration  of  our  graduation  exercises 
from  the  great  school  of  homes  at  Cholula,  of 
which  I  wish  to  tell  you;  but  it  is  a  long  story, 
and  perhaps  you  would  rather  have  some  other 
questions  answered  now. 

"At  that  time  there  was  a  spring  of  mineral 
water  in  the  Tlaxcala  Mountains  that  would 
turn  to  spar  any  living  creature  that  drank  it, 
157 


Dalleszona 

or  anything  that  was  placed  in  it  for  a  few 
weeks,  and  the  Toltecs  used  the  waters  for  pre- 
serving our  great  ones.  Shortly  after  Rozemma's 
death  that  section  of  country  was  subjected  to 
severe  earthquake,  and  the  water  ceased  to  flow." 

"Yes,  there  are  other  questions  I'll  have  to  get 
out  of  my  system  before  I  can  understand  your 
program  of  social  and  educational  life. 

"Tell  me  how  your  construction  engineers 
moved  the  tremendous  blocks  of  stone  built  into 
your  temples,  pyramids  and  causeways  across  the 
lake  to  your  ancient  capital  city.  My  people  have 
great  engineering  skill,  and  construct  travelling 
cranes  with  mighty  lifting  power,  but  cannot 
move  those  enormous  blocks." 

"This  was  only  one  of  the  works  of  Rozemma 
and  is  really  very  simple  and  easy  to  work  out, 
once  the  idea  is  gained. 

"A  short  distance  down  the  coast  below  the 
158 


Toltec  Trails 

present  Vera  Cruz  is  a  'V  shaped  pocket,  or  bay, 
where  the  tides  and  breakers  run  extraordinarily 
high  and  strong.  The  whole  bay  is  just  hke  the 
lower  jaw  of  an  alhgator's  mouth,  with  a  rocky 
reef  for  tongue.  Even  at  low  tide  the  waves 
break  across  this  tongue  with  considerabl  force, 
but  at  high  tide  their  Tush  and  power  is  almost 
irresistible.  On  either  side  of  this  rocky  tongue 
Rozemma  placed  giant  tongs  or  grappling  hooks 
(similar  to  those  used  by  the  ancient  Romans  for 
lifting  enemy  ships  in  naval  battles),  connected 
above  with  wrought  copper  trusses  bearing  heavy 
pulleys.  Above  these  she  had  placed  a  mighty 
barge  or  pontoon  of  mahogany,  ri vetted  above  and 
below  to  sheets  of  hardened  copper,  from  which 
ropes,  cords  and  copper  cables  passed  through 
the  pulleys,  and  were  carried  as  far  inland  as 
desired.  These  were  connected  to  horizontal 
capstans  at  frequent  intervals.  These  capstans 
159 


Dalleszona 

were  provided  with  sliding  bases,  so  that  all  slack 
or  pull  could  be  quickly  taken  care  of.  These 
cables  were  carried  back  to  the  quarries  in  the 
Tlaxcala  Hills.  When  the  tides  came  thunder- 
ing in,  mounting  higher  and  higher,  the  pontoon 
was  lifted,  and  the  strength  of  the  copper  cables 
was  the  only  limit  of  power. 

"Uniform  and  perpetual,  it  was  easy  to  tell 
how  far  anything  could  be  moved  during  any 
portion  of  the  day;  thus  both  time  and  distance 
units  were  gained,  though  the  length  of  the 
month  was  determined  by  the  full  of  the  moon, 
twenty-eight  days." 

"No  need  to  go  farther  with  that,  Dalleszona, 
I  have  the  formula,  and  can  see  clearly  how  it 
could  be  worked  out. 

"Now  I  want  to  know  what  you  meant  when 
you  spoke  of  determining  emotions,  will  power 
and  character.  When  you  have  done  this,  I  think 
160 


Toltec  Trails 

I  may  have  gained  sufficient  control  of  the  brain- 
storm which  you  started  and  wrecked  my  credi- 
bility, so  that  I  can  understand  the  story  of  your 
ancient  home  life." 

Dalleszona  reached  over,  patted  his  arm, 
looked  with  laughing  eyes  squarely  into  his  ques- 
tioning ones  and  said :  "Oh,  you  materialistic 
Anglo-Saxon,  \Y\\y  don't  you  travel  by  'Vision' 
instead  of  by  'View'?  I  perceive  you  are  in 
danger  of  being  swept  into  the  rapids  and  whirl- 
pools of  commercialism,  when  by  all  rules  of  life 
and  love  you  should  be  listening  to  the  harmony 
of  divinely  appointed  programs,  ready  to  sail 
beyond  the  sunset  and  the  paths  of  all  the  Wes- 
tern stars,  even  to  the  broad  pacific  of  altruistic 
ideals  and  the  realms  of  immortal  genius. 

"Come  with  me,"  she  said.  And,  taking  his 
arm  with  a  way  that  would  have  won  an  an- 
chorite, she  led  him  directly  to  the  most  marvel- 
161 


Dalleszona 

ous  creation  of  this  palace  of  wonders.  "This,  I 
would  have  you  to  know,  Sir  Chancellor,  is  more 
than  an  aggregation  of  gems  or  collection  of 
jewels. 

"This  is  a  Cozmotl.  Originally  the  word 
meant  'World  Builder'  of  material  things, — 
houses,  farms,  cities,  mines,  shops,  factories, — 
later  applied  to  nations  and  civilization  itself. 
Finally  it  took  on  the  added  meaning  of  health 
building,  disposition  and  character  building. 

"Through  all  ages,  races  and  nations  have  been 
so  busy  with  hearing,  seeing,  tasting,  smelling  and 
feeling,  that  there  has  been  slight  chance  to 
develop  the  finer  sensibilities,  sympathy,  gentle- 
ness, kindness,  courtesy  and  appreciation. 

"Long  centuries  ago  the  Toltecs  knew  that  the 

outdoor  life  in  air,  water  and  sunshine  was  the 

only  life  worth  while  for  the  physical  body;  but 

it  remained  for  our  adorable  Rozemma  to  apply 

162 


Toltec  Trails 

sunlight,  air,  water  and  color  to  the  growth  and 
beauty  of  disposition,  will  power  and  emotions, 
that,  all  combined,  produce  character. 

"Given  a  sound  mind  and  healthy  body,  she 
reasoned  a  human  being  would  have  a  kindly 
disposition,  sweet  desires,  purposes  and  good-will 
power.  If  nature's  forces  spelled  good  physical 
health,  why  not  good  disposition  and  lovable 
character?  In  ancient  days  the  rainbow  was 
God's  visible  promise  the  world  should  never 
again  be  destroyed  by  violence.  Here  was  a 
mighty  truth.  Why  not  apply  it  in  every  realm 
of  human  affairs?  Surely,  war  was  violence,  and 
human  beings  in  a  normal  state  never  would 
engage  in  organized  destruction,  the  most  merci- 
less and  brutal  of  all  crimes.  There  must  be  a 
corrective  for  the  insanity  of  heart  that  finds 
expression  in  hate  and  is  infinitely  worse  than 
insanity  of  mind.  If  greenery  of  woods  is 
163 


Dalleszona 

universally  restful  to  eyes,  why  not  quieting  to 
nerves?  If  red  inflames  a  bull  to  fight,  why  not 
a  man  to  physical  vigor  and  righteous  action  ? 
If  violet,  indigo  and  orange  make  transcendent 
dawns  and  magic  twilights,  may  they  not  give 
corresponding  beauty  and  sweetness  to  desires 
and  emotions? 

"Now,   Mr.   Saxon,   I'm  sure   this  sort   of   a 
'Prospect'  would  have  been  considered  a  'Certain 
Bonanza'   by   your  old   friend   Highfinger.     He 
had  lived  so  much  with  cloud  and  storm,  rain, 
sun  and  stars,  that  he  could  sense  the  things  im- 
possible to  ordinary  mortals.     I  hope  and  want 
to  believe  you  are  endowed  with  creative  imagina- 
tion; and,  once  you  have  dared  to  sail  the  un- 
charted seas  of  possibility,   you  will   find  them 
resplendent  with  mightiest  rewards. 
"Do  you  care  to  follow  the  gleam  ?" 
"I'll  say  I   do.     It  looks  to  me  like   a  true 
164 


Toltec  Trails 

'Fissure,'  time  wide,  heaven  high,  eternity  long. 
Go  ahead;  I'll  follow,  or  try  to,  wherever  you 
may  lead,  even  unto  the  Gates  of  the  Eternal 
Morning." 

"Well,  I  expect  to  go  that  far  sometime,  but 
hope  not  to-day. 

"Now,  about  this  Cozmotl.  I  want  you  to 
notice  three  things.  First,  it  is  made  entirely  of 
volcanic  glass  and  natural  gem  stones ;  there  is 
not  a  hint  of  metal  or  wood  about  it.  Second, 
it  was  created  by  a  woman.  Third,  it  was  not 
made  to  produce  wealth.  It  was  designed  to 
produce  health  of  body  and  spirit,  and  it  has  done 
and  will  do  all  that  we  claim  for  it." 

Then,  with  serious  face  but  laughing  eyes,  she 
added:  "No,  I'm  not  trying  to  sell  it  to  you, 
because  it  is  not  for  sale. 

"This  great  cylinder  has  both  inner  and  outer 
sides  so  constructed  that  water  applied  to  it  will 
165 


Dalleszona 

adhere  only  in  drops,  and  when  revolved  at 
proper  speed  in  sunlight  will  produce  a  con- 
tinuous rainbow.  Over  against  it  we  place  this 
obsidian  prism  so  that  the  primary  colors  are 
widely  separated  and  can  be  thrown  singly  upon 
any  object  placed  on  this  tourmaline  base  table. 

"By  many  careful  experiments  Rozemma  de- 
monstrated that  the  seven  primary  colors  of  the 
rainbow  are  positive  antidotes  for  seven  deadly 
poisons  generated  in  human  minds  by  the  seven 
primary  vicious  emotions, — Hate,  Fear,  Suspicion, 
Envy,  Jealousy,  Revenge  and  Deceit;  that  these 
poisons  are  distributed  by  the  nerves  to  all  parts 
of  the  body,  but  are  subjected  to  control  of  will 
power,  also  that  will  power  is  subject  only  to 
the  master  passion,  Love. 

"With  these  interesting  facts  before  her,  Roz- 
emma began  to  systematically  observe  child  life, 
and  soon  discovered  that  children  who  were  fre- 
166 


Toltec  Trails 

quently  subject  to  certain  emotions,  sometimes 
slowly,  sometimes  rapidly,  but  always  surely, 
developed  certain  physical  weakness  that  brought 
on  sickness  of  body  and  degeneracy  of  purpose 
and  will ;  also  that  in  every  case  the  child  was 
extremely  responsive  to  some  particular  color. 

"After  years  of  patient  research  and  labor  she 
gave  us  this  Cozmotl,  an  absolute  panacea  for 
all  ailments  of  body  and  mind ;  an  unfailing  in- 
spiration of  good  will,  kindly  disposition  and 
lovable  character. 

"The  practical  usefulness  of  this  Cozmotl  was 
demonstrated  through  five  hundred  years  of  na- 
tional life  without  an  epidemic,  pestilence  or 
plague,  and,  what  is  most  wonderful,  without 
war,  riot  or  violent  bloodshed  of  any  kind. 

"Do  you  wonder  that  I  am  proud  to  belong  to 
a  people  who  made  constant  progress  and  climb 
in  every  range  of  human  endeavor,  and  had 
167 


Dalleszona 

raised  the  average  of  life  to  one  hundred  years 
of  vigor,  with  peace  and  abundant  good  will 
reigning  supreme  everywhere  among  our  people, 
when  the  Aztec  came  ? 

"Oh,  Mr.  Saxon,  I  am  sure  you  will  catch 
the  vision  of  what  unspeakable  blessing  that  sort 
of  regime  could  bring  to  family  and  educational 
life,  and,  understanding,  appreciate  the  temper 
and  spirit  of  a  great  race  who  gave  supreme  con- 
sideration in  their  national  purpose  and  program 
to  the  building  of  lives, — broad-browed,  warm- 
hearted, sunny-souled   men   and  women." 

Then  a  wave  of  consternation  swept  across  her 
beautiful  face,  and  in  a  moment  Saxon  was  all 
solicitude ;  but  Dalleszona  sent  him  into  breezy 
laughter  by  saying:  "Oh,  Mr.  Chancellor,  what 
shall  I  do?  You  are  such  a  wonderful  man,  so 
entertaining, — that  is,  I  mean  such  a  good  lis- 
tener,— that  I  have  forgotten  to-night  is  the 
168 


Toltec  Trails 

Rotanza  wedding,  and  we  must  be  going.  But 
I  will  tell  you  of  ancient  Toltec  home  life, 
school  and  courtship  customs  as  the  De  Haviland 
thrums  across  the  ozone  seas." 

As  they  emerged  from  the  palace  of  treasures 
to  the  terraces  of  the  old  garden,  a  scene  of 
splendor  greeted  them,  that  caused  Dalleszona  to 
shout  for  joy  while  Saxon  stood  entranced  in 
silent  wonder  and  admiration. 

The  setting  sun  had  dropped  below  the  wes- 
tern mountains,  but  the  wide  reaches  of  Yaki 
land  were  covered  with  a  tideless  sea  of  mist  of 
gold.  Far,  far  eastward,  even  unto  the  hills  of 
Angustura,  shimmering  lakes  of  purple  twilight 
flooded  the  canyons  and  terraces  of  the  Cordil- 
leras, and  far  southward  the  shores  of  cloud 
continents  rose  in  mighty  facades  of  molten  gold. 

As  the  Mystery  Maid  rose  higher  and  higher, 
the  Lastuna  Hills  and  Sahaura  Mesa  appeared 
169 


Dalleszona 

bathed  in  bands  of  heliotrope  and  veils  of  saffron, 
burnt  umber,  and  carnelian,  while  farther  on  the 
Mother  Sea  rolled  in  billows  of  flame. 

"Dalleszona,  have  you  ever  seen  anything  like 
this  before?  I  certainly  never  have.  The  only 
scene  approaching  it  for  beauty  and  sublimity 
came  to  me  once  when  I  had  sailed  above  and 
beyond  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  and  was  far  out 
over  the  desert  of  Algiers  in  Africa.  Ever  since 
I  have  planned  to  sometime  sail  above  the  oases 
and  wide-flung  sands  of  the  Sahara." 

"Yes,"  she  said,  "I  have  seen  this  very  thing 
several  times,  but  from  mountain  heights  only. 
But  I  am  so  glad  to  have  you  see  it  with  me  now, 
for  you  will  understand  why  I  love  this  garden 
land  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  so  earnestly  desire 
to  see  with  my  own  eyes  the  splendor  and  power 
of  Toltec  ideals  fully  restored. 

"The  crowning  glory  of  these  ideals  was  home 
170 


Toltec  Trails 

life,  that  had  the  right  of  way  from  childhood 
to  old  age.  Up  to  sixteen  years  of  age  all  chil- 
dren were  taught  and  trained  in  the  homes  by 
their  mothers;  and  during  the  years  of  mother- 
hood the  mothers  were  relieved  of  all  other  duties 
and  became  simply  companions  and  inspiring 
lovers  for  their  children.  If  any  signs  of  physi- 
cal weakness,  violent  temper  or  chronic  grouch 
appeared,  they  were  immediately  placed  under 
Cozmotl  influence,  with  all  costs  borne  by  na- 
tional funds. 

"After  sixteen,  all  sons  and  daughters  were 
required  to  attend  the  five  great  national  schools, 
— first,  at  Orizaba,  where  all  boys  were  required 
to  thoroughly  learn  grain  growing  and  the  girls 
were  trained  in  all  household  duties, — cooking, 
sewing,  washing  and  housekeeping;  second,  Cho- 
lula,  with  fruit  growing  for  the  boys,  with  weav- 
ing of  tapestries  and  cloth  of  all  kinds  and  pat- 
171 


Dalleszona 

terns  for  the  girls;  third,  Chivela,  where  mining 
of  precious  stones  and  all  metals  was  followed 
by  the  boj^s  and  music  and  painting,  if  desired, 
for  both  sons  and  daughters;  fourth,  Luzon, 
building  of  dwellings,  constructive  engineering  for 
business  and  public  buildings,  roads,  canals,  etc., 
though  only  drawing  of  plans  and  writing  of 
specifications  was  required  of  the  girls;  fifth, 
Mescala,  professions,  business  principles,  and 
especially  conversation,  equally  open  for  both. 
In  the  order  named  they  were  called  Ponzos, 
Tanzos,  Montezumas,  Rozemmas  and  Cozmotls, 
this  latter  signifying  that  in  every  way  they  were 
qualified  to  be  world  builders. 

"Courtship  looking  towards  marriage  was  ex- 
pected and  encouraged,  but  no  one  was  permitted 
to  marry  until  they  had  passed  through  all  the 
schools  with  good  records  and  the  men  had  built 
a  house  for  family  use.  All  weddings  were 
172 


Toltec  Trails 

public  and  could  be  held  at  any  of  the  schools 
one  day  in  each  month,  when  the  moon  fulled ; 
but  gradually  Cholula  in  the  fruit-growing  dis- 
tricts of  the  Tlaxcala  Hills,  not  far  from  our 
capital  Puebla,  became  the  popular  place  for 
nearly  all  marriages. 

"There  was  constructed  in  a  national  park, 
surounded  by  splendid  forests,  an  oval  shaped 
amphitheatre  with  long  rows  of  terraced  seats  on 
either  side  of  a  sparkling  brook,  which  flowed 
through  the  center  and  was  spanned  by  a  long 
bridge  just  wide  enough  for  two  persons  to  walk 
along  side  by  side.  One  end  of  this  bridge  was  ?. 
raised  platform,  at  the  other  a  settee  or  throne 
for  the  Queen  Mother. 

"To  this  n:tarriage  shrine  once  each  month  at 

the  time  of  the  full  moon  lovers  and  sweethearts 

presented  themselves  for  the  wedding  rites,  the 

boys  on  one  side,  the  girls  on  the  other.     When 

173 


Dalleszona 

the  great  sundial  on  the  raised  platform  marked 
the  noontide  hour,  the  boys  in  heavy  swelling 
tones  began  chanting, — 

'I  am  coming,  O  my  sweetheart, 
I  have  built  a  home  for  you, — 

"then  the  girls  in  sweet,  full-throated  music 
responded, — 

*Do  you  pledge  for  aye  and  ever 
To  be  tender,  kind  and  true? 
Just  how  long  will  you  be  faithful. 
Calm  or  storm  or  cloud  or  sun  ?' 

"answer  by  the  men, — 

'Just  as  long  as  grass  is  growing. 
Just  as  long  as  waters  run, 
174 


Toltec  Trails 

I  do  pledge  to  love  and  honor, 
Ever  cherish  and  adore,' — 

"again  the  girls, — 

'Now  I'm  coming,  O  my  lover, 
I'm  your  sweetheart  evermore.' 

"This  was  repeated  twice,  then  all  arose,  and 
according  to  numbers,  passed  to  the  platform, 
where  each  lover  and  sweetheart  joined  hands 
and,  still  chanting  softly  together,  passed  along 
the  bridge  over  the  river  of  life  to  receive,  each 
from  the  Queen  Mother,  a  wedding  ring  set  with 
birth  stones.  Beyond  her  they  entered  and  passed 
through  a  closed  corridor  lighted  only  from  above, 
— emblem  of  light  and  guidance  by  the  Great 
Spirit.  Passing  from  the  corridor  they  entered 
at  once  a  spacious  garden,  made  beautiful  with 
plashing  fountains,  singing  birds,  fragrant  blos- 
175 


Dalleszona 

soms  and  clustering  vines,  with  entertainment 
halls  and  banquet  tables,  where  a  splendid  repast, 
provided  by  their  parents,  awaited  them.  Games 
and  entertainment  of  various  kind,  with  grand 
concert  in  the  evening,  closed  the  wedding  day; 
but  the  festivities  and  amusements  might  be  pro- 
longed for  a  week  or  more  if  desired  by  the 
happy  young  people." 

The  mist  of  gold  had  faded  into  purple  twi- 
light when  the  Mystery  Maid  dropped  to  the 
hangar  in  Truxlan,  but  the  beauty  and  sweet- 
ness of  the  magic  hour  could  never  be  forgotten. 

Whatever  may  have  been  in  each  of  their 
hearts,  their  lips  were  silent  as  they,  arm  in  arm, 
passed  up  the  rose  bordered  walk  of  Dalleszona's 
home,  until  they  paused  in  the  fragrant  pergola 
to  say  good-night,  then  Saxon  spoke: — 

"Dalleszona,  this  has  been  the  happiest, 
gladdest  day  of  my  life.  I  never  dreamed  so 
176 


Toltec  Trails 

much  of  beauty  and  fascination,  joy  and  pure 
delight,  could  be  crowded  into  one  day,  even  in 
this  land  so  rich  with  surprising  treasure;  and  1 
do  not  see  how  I  can  ever  repay  you  for  all  the 
pleasure  you  have  given  to  me  all  through  this 
wonderful,  wonderful  day." 

With  her  hand  still  upon  his  arm,  she  said: 
"I  am  surely  glad  the  day  has  brought  you  great 
pleasure;  but  within  a  few  days  I  am  going  to 
ask  you  to  take  me  for  another  day's  sailing  of 
Toltec  Trails,  which  I  hope  will  give  you  more 
sweetness  and  delight  than  to-day  could  possibly 
hold." 

It  was  in  his  heart,  and  almost  upon  his  tongue, 
to  ask  her  if  she  would  go  with  him  down  the 
long,  long  trail  of  life,  when  a  step  sounded  on 
the  gravelled  walk,  and  a  moment  later,  his  na- 
tional chemist,  Cantone  Rotanza,  sprang  up  the 
steps. 

177 


Dalleszona 

With  an  expression  of  comic  dismay  on  her 
face,  blushing  and  laughing,  Dalleszona  said: 
"Please  pardon  me,  Mr.  Saxon,  but  you  have 
given  me  such  a  charming  time  that  I  had  for- 
gotten my  promise  to  attend  Cantone's  sister's 
wedding,  and  did  not  realize  it  was  so  late. 
Please  excuse  me,"  and  in  a  breezy  moment  she 
was  swept  away  from  him.  A  few  moments 
later  he  heard  her  trilling  a  favorite  song  in  her 
own  apartments. 

For  a  few  moments  he  chatted  pleasantly  with 
Cantone,  then  passed  down  the  walk,  wondering 
the  while  if  he  had  done  wisely  to  appoint  so 
handsome  a  young  Toltec,  national  chemist, 
especially  since  the  laboratory  was  next  to  the 
Department  of  Welfare,  presided  over  by  Dal- 
leszona. 

"AnyAvay,"  he  mused,  "she  is  the  most  won- 
derful woman  I  have  ever  seen.  What  a  world 
178 


Toltec  Trails 

this  would  be  with  a  race  of  such  women !  After 
all,  any  hope  for  speedy  betterment  of  the  world's 
conditions  rests  with  women.  Men  have  almost 
made  a  flat  failure  of  government,  trying  to  rule 
the  nations  by  force  and  fear,  and  fear  of  force, 
and  have  practically  bankrupted  the  world  by 
war,  and  mortgaged  their  children  for  a  hundred 
years  to  pay  the  costs. 

"I  do  wonder  what  trip  Dalleszona  has  in 
mind.  Where  can  she  possibly  plan  to  go  that 
we  have  not  already  been?  Well,  I  do  hope  it 
will  not  be  many  days  before  I  can  have  another 
full  day  of  her  infinitely  charming  companionship, 
and  I'm  praying  it  may  be  before  the  elections." 


179 


Dallcszona 

CHAPTER  VIII 
The  Chancellor 

Propelled  by  the  powers  of  celestial  hands,  the 
cycle  of  ages  knows  no  retrograde  movement. 
Five  years  of  mortal  time  have  slipped  from  the 
calendar  of  a  blood-stained,  discontented,  strug- 
gling world  into  the  mighty  spaces  of  immortal 
eternity. 

Under  the  wise  and  just  management  of  Saxon, 
Toltec  ideals  have  grown  into  world  power. 
The  leaven  of  democracy,  working  its  way  sub- 
limely on  to  universal  dominion,  has  been  eagerly 
accepted  by  all  the  Central  American  republics, 
and  under  the  ancient  name  of  "Chalcedon,"  the 
new  nation,  resistless  in  peace,  progress  and  prom- 
ise, holds  supreme  influence  from  Panama  to  the 
Rio  Grande. 

180 


The  Chancellor 

Glad  and  happy,  the  peon  millions  live  in  a 
present,  resplendent  with  achievement,  roseate 
with  hope  for  centuries  to  come. 

When  purple  twilight  broods  over  this  en- 
chanted land  without  a  serf,  a  servant  or  a  slave, 
sweet  music  and  songs  of  happy  lovers  pulses  in 
magic  rhythm  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  Chagres 
River,  and  swells  with  languorous  charm  from 
Vera  Cruz  to  Mazatlan,  while  all  the  nations  of 
the  world  look  with  hungry  hearts  and  yearning 
admiration  to  her  bloodless  conquests  and  un- 
conquerable peace. 

Europe,  bolshevic,  blood-soaked,  bankrupt  to 
the  verge  of  anarchy,  has  cleared  the  Ship  of 
State  of  every  form  of  royalty  and  military 
mania.  All  that  stood  for  the  doctrine  of  force 
has  gone  the  way  of  the  Hohenzollern.  The 
aristuckupracy  of  wealth  has  given  way  to  the 
aristuckupracy  of  labor;  but  the  seven  devils  of 
181 


Dalleszona 

Selfishness,  Greed,  Suspicion,  Envy,  Jealousy, 
Hate  and  Revenge  are  still  enthroned  in  human 
hearts.  The  altruistic  ideals  of  the  Mighty 
Galilean  have  been  rejected,  while  the  helpless, 
almost  hopeless  millions  watch  and  long  for 
leaders  with  heart  and  conscience  committed  to 
truth  and  justice,  with  courage  to  blaze  the  trail 
to  universal  brotherhood.  But  a  flaming  star  of 
hope  has  appeared  in  the  person  of  Casimer  of 
Poland.  A  magnetic  statesman  of  splendid  pre- 
sence, he  has  inspired  his  countrymen  with  an- 
cient heroism,  and  a  League  of  Peace,  formed 
with  Russian  Jews,  is  thundering  a  mighty 
crusade  for  justice  and  equity  over  a  blood- 
drenched  continent,  and  the  dawn  of  a  better  day 
already  illumines  the  governmental  skies  of  war- 
cursed  millions.  Inspired  and  guided  by  the 
splendor  and  power  of  Toltec  ideals,  enthused 
by  the  policy  and  program  of  Saxon,  who  now 
182 


The  Chancellor 

holds  peaceful  but  irresistible  power,  Casimer  is 
surely  leading  the  European  hosts  into  Life, 
Liberty  and  the  Pursuit  of  Happiness. 

In  Asia,  too,  the  spirit  and  power  of  democ- 
racy is  leading  grandly  on.  The  mighty  spirit 
of  India's  ancient  days — Kamadeva — has  awak- 
ened the  sleeping  soul  of  Hindustan  and  China 
to  life  and  action.  English  dominion  is  ended 
forever.  Japan  has  received  an  ultimatum, — "Live 
in  peace  or  die  in  war."  "Decency  or  extermina- 
tion. Sink  your  battleships  and  disband  your 
army,  or  we  will  do  it  for  you."  "It's  up  to  you." 
This  old  world  will  no  longer  tolerate  cesspools 
that  breed  war  germs  and  military  microbes. 
"Human  as  well  as  material  sanitation  is  the 
word." 

Even  now  eight  hundred  millions  of  human 
beings  are  pressing  on  in  bloodless  conquest  of 
abundant  resources  of  the  world's  greatest  con- 
183 


Dalleszona 

tinent,  and  the  spiritual  forces  of  India,  which 
have  hitherto  dissipated  their  unmatched  powers 
in  dreaming  dreams,  interpreting  horoscopes,  hyp- 
notizing progress  and  consulting  ouija  boards  and 
familiar  spirits,  has  appeared  incarnate  in  altruis- 
tic ideals,  and  long  centuries  of  caste  and  gloom 
are  giving  way  to  tolerance  and  sanity. 

In  the  United  States  the  religious  forces,  long 
enchained  by  "a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying 
the  powei"  thereof"  (Sacrifice),  is  swiftly  turning 
to  culture  of  heart  and  conscience  rather  than 
brains  and  business  as  the  supreme  aim.  But  the 
pleasure  seekers  and  "joy  riders"  have  degene- 
rated into  a  race  of  nicotine,  cocaine  and  mor- 
phine fiends  that  threatens  social,  economic  and 
governmental  chaos. 

South  American  republics,  startled  and  charmed 
by  the  dazzling  success  of  Chalcedon,  watch, 
and  wonder  whether  a  nation  can  really  exist 
184 


The  Chancellor 

without  bullets,  bloodshed,  moral  corruption, 
spiritual  degeneracy  and  chronic  revolution. 
"These  things  always  have  been.  We  believe 
they  always  will  be."  "You  will  have  to  show 
us." 

So  stands  the  world  after  six  j^ears  of  attempted 
reconstruction  at  the  hands  of  politicians  and 
time-servers. 

Meanwhile,  national  elections  are  on  for 
Chalcedon,  and  the  whole  world,  thrilled  with 
the  mighty  contest  of  "World-changing  Ideals," 
is  paying  undivided  attention  to  the  fiercely  con- 
tested campaign. 

In  ancient  days  Toltec  leadership  had  always 
been  hereditary,  and  for  long  centuries  was  con- 
fined to  the  House  of  Iximaga.  The  present 
Iximaga,  a  man  of  tremendous  personality,  pos- 
sessed by  the  highest  order  of  statesmanship,  had 
appointed  Saxon  to  supreme  authority.  Saxon 
185 


Dalleszotia 

had  banked  heavily  on  Ixi'maga's  wisdom,  and  in 
all  matters  of  national  moment  there  had  been 
absolute  accord,  save  this  one,  the  manner  of 
choosing  his  successor.  However,  Saxon  had 
carried  the  point  without  bitterness ;  the  campaign 
was  at  white  heat  and  election  day  near  at  hand. 
Saxon  had  refrained  from  taking  any  part  in  the 
campaign,  stoutly  holding  he  was  chancellor  for 
all  rather  than  for  any  faction  or  party,  that 
government  simply  was  good  business,  and  so  far 
Iximaga  had  not  spoken  publicly.  But  the  third 
night  before  the  day  set  for  balloting,  there  was 
to  be  a  final  gathering  at  the  capitol  of  influential 
delegations  from  every  province,  and  Iximaga  had 
consented  to  speak. 

Saxon's  chief  rival  was  Cantone  Rotanza,  na- 
tional chemist,  a  brilliant,  magnetic,  pure-blood 
young  Toltec  and  closely  related  to  the  Hogan 
of  Iximaga. 

186 


The  Chancellor 

Cantone  was  acknowledged  leader  of  educa- 
tional forces,  and  had  been  a  tremendous  factor 
in  the  upbuilding  of  the  nation.  Moreover, 
Cantone  and  Saxon  had  always  worked  together 
as  friends,  though  it  was  well  known  that  the 
handsome,  popular  chemist  was  a  welcome  visitor 
at  the  Hogan  of  Iximaga  and  an  ardent  wor- 
shipper at  the  shrine  of  Dalleszona. 

Immediately  following  the  victory  of  the  Tol- 
tecs  in  the  Valley  of  Death,  there  had  been  a 
week-long  fiesta  of  national  proportions,  and  at 
the  closing  fandango,  Cantone  and  Dalleszona 
had  been  conspicuous  for  their  attention  and  de- 
votion to  each  other  and  had  won  the  first  honors 
as  beautiful  and  graceful  dancers.  In  fact,  the 
beauty  and  brilliance  of  the  couple  had  won 
universal  admiration,  and  there  was  an  able- 
bodied  rumor  that  the  Hogan  of  Iximaga  would 
claim  relationship  with  the  new  chancellor. 
187 


Dalleszona 

Of  course  Saxon  could  not  know  exactly  how 
much  progress  Cantone  had  made  in  the  graces 
of  Dalleszona,  but  he  did  know  that  the  chan- 
cellorship would  be  but  the  ashes  of  Dead  Sea 
fruit  to  his  soul  if  he  failed  to  win  Dalleszona. 
True,  they  were  the  best  of  friends;  together  in 
business  or  social  life  every  day  she  had  been  the 
inspirer  of  most  of  his  success,  had  always  held 
infinite  charm  for  him,  and  commanded  ab- 
solutely the  love  and  admiration  of  his  heart  and 
brain;  but  his  soul  had  never  felt  sure  enough 
of  her  love  to  ask  her  to  be  his  wife. 

About  a  week  before  the  election  day  she  came 
to  him  early  in  the  morning  and  said : — 

"Ben  Igo,  I  wish  you  would  order  the  Mys- 
tery Maid  and  take  me  to  Lastuna  Ford  on  the 
Hermosillo  Road  to-day,"  and,  when  he  hesitated, 
had  added,  "The  terrible  memories  of  that  place 
have  been  a  living  nightmare  all  these  years,  and 
188 


The  Chancellor 

until  to-day  I  have  never  been  able  to  gain  my 
own  consent  to  return  there;  but  to-day  I  feel 
I  can  go,  and  I  lost  a  throat  pin  there  that  I 
hope  to  recover,  for  it  has  come  down  from  my 
grandmothers  for  centuries." 

She  had  never  before  called  him  by  his  first 
name.  For  fifteen  years  he  had  been  known  as 
"Ben  Saxon";  but  his  mother  had  always  called 
him  "I go,"  and  the  old  name  from  the  lips  of 
Dalleszona  thrilled  him  almost  beyond  control. 
Still,  some  imperative  business  at  the  seventh 
treasure  compelled  his  presence  there,  and  he  had 
felt  required  to  say  he  could  not  take  her  to 
Lastuna,  and  the  beautiful  eyes  were  full  of  dis- 
appointment that  was  misery  for  him,  as  she 
turned  away.  All  day  her  look  of  pleading  was 
with  him  as  he  wended  his  way  through  the 
underground  mazes  of  the  seventh  treasure  and 


189 


Dalleszo7ia 

worked  out  a  peaceful  settlement  of  mining 
problems. 

On  his  return  he  planned  to  see  Dalleszona 
and  arrange  for  the  trip  to  Lastuna,  but  before 
he  could  look  for  her  was  told  that  she  had  gone 
with  Cantone  to  attend  some  chemical  laboratory 
experiments  in  Central  American  provinces. 

Saxon  knew  his  governmental  methods  and 
success  had  been  entirely  satisfactory  to  the 
Toltecs,  Mexicans  and  Anhuacs,  all  of  whom 
had  been,  under  his  personal  approval,  called  to 
the  right  of  franchise.  But  the  campaign  was 
being  waged  along  racial  lines.  "We  want  a 
chancellor  of  our  own  blood"  was  the  slogan  of 
Cantone  and  his  followers.  "Saxon  is  all  right. 
He  has  been  loyal  and  wonderful  in  his  devotion 
to  Toltec  ideals,  but  he  is  a  'Gringo'."  "Chal- 
cedon  has  blood  and  brain  to  manage  her  own 
alifairs."  "Chalcedon  for  Chalcedonians"  was 
190 


The  Chancellor 

the  magic  word  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  the 
Chagres  River. 

Cantone  had  manufactured  an  inflammable 
film  that  spelled  the  sentence  as  it  burned,  and 
these  films  had  been  dropped  from  airplanes  at 
every  schoolhouse  in  the  realm,  till  the  fiery 
creed  had  literally  blazed  from  storm  clouds  and 
flamed  on  velvet  skies  at  night. 

This  thing  had  gone  on  for  weeks  before  the 
Saxon  supporters  had  been  able  to  match  the 
film;  but,  when  they  did,  they  filled  the  heavens 
with  fiery  squadrons  bearing  an  illuminated  fiag 
of  the  nation,  inscribed:  "Saxon  has  given  us 
peace  and  life.  Follow  him,  and  the  world  is 
ours.     What  more  do  you  want?" 

The   newness   and   stupendous   possibilities   of 

the    fascinating    doctrine    of    a    hving,    growing 

world   life,   pulsing   with   peaceful   progress   and 

imperishable  glory,  set  a  new  standard  for  pa- 

191 


Dalleszona 

triotic  desire  and  heroic  action  and  the  Saxon 
boosters  were  gaining  in  numbers  and  zeal  every- 
where. 

In  an  attempt  to  check  the  tremiendous  tide, 
Cantone  had  made  a  personal  visit  to  the  former 
Central  American  provinces,  and  Dalleszona  haf' 
gone  with  him.  Cantone's  followers  did  not 
claim  that  she  had  spoken  publicly  in  favor  of  his 
candidacy,  but  the  fact  that  she  had  appeared  at 
public  gatherings  with  him  was  ground  for 
claiming  she  desired  his  election.  Both  sides 
freely  admitted  Dalleszona  could  influence  more 
votes  than  any  other  person  in  the  nation,  and 
could  easily  be  elected  chancellor  herself  if  she 
desired  the  place. 

When    the   night   of   the   closing   rally   came, 

Iximaga  was  not  physically  able  to  be  present, 

but  sent  Dalleszona  as  his  substitute.     Saxon's 

soul  was  heavy  with  doubt  and  his  heart  full  of 

192 


The  Chancellor 

misgivings.  If  Dalleszona  should  speak  for  Can- 
tone,  undoubtedly  her  heart  and  hand  would  go 
to  him  in  marriage.  He  could  bear  easily  the 
loss  of  the  chancellorship,  if  he  still  had  hope  of 
\\'inning  Dalleszona;  but,  if  both  were  lost,  all 
future  years  must  be  a  barren  desert,  storm- 
beaten,  horror-blackened,  desolate. 

However,  he  ascended  the  platform  with  Can- 
tone  and  Dalleszona,  and  spoke  words  of  welcome 
and  congratulation  to  the  assembled  thousands, — 
not  a  word  for  his  own  candidacy,  platform  nor 
policies,  but  an  irresistible  appeal  for  the  dignity 
and  purity  of  the  franchise,  and  the  necessity  of 
every  voter,  male  and  female,  casting  a  con- 
scientious ballot. 

Just  at  the  moment  of  closing  his  address,  and 

presenting  Cantone,  imperative  summons  came  for 

his  immediate  presence  at  the  refinery  at  South- 

rown,  and  when  he  returned,  some  hours  later, 

193 


Dalleszona 

the  great  rally  had  passed  into  history,  and,  with- 
out knowledge  of  that  epoch  marking  session,  he 
sought  the  privacy  of  his  own  apartments. 

Cantone  made  a  powerful  appeal  for  "Home 
rule,  home  life  and  racial  integrity."  "We  have 
a  matchless  land,  marvellous  prosperity.  We  are 
a  great  nation,  doing  great  things.  Let  us  be 
content.  Why  should  we  be  worried  over  trou- 
bled conditions  beyond  the  seas,  or  burden  our- 
selves with  entanglements  there?  An  all-wise 
Creator  has  set  the  bounds  of  our  habitation  and 
walled  us  in  by  protecting  seas.  The  whole 
world  for  business  and  profit,  pleasure  and  travel, 
but  hands  off  the  social  and  governmental  policies 
of  the  Old  World.  Chalcedon  for  Chalcedo- 
nians." 

Dalleszona  had  travelled  eight  hundred  miles 
that  day  over  vibrant  seas  and  swinging  lands, 
but,  when  Cantone  ceased  speaking  and  left  the 
194 


The  Chancellor 

platform,  she  stood  before  the  expectant  thou- 
sands, the  incarnation  of  mental  and  spiritual 
power  without  a  sign  of  physical  weariness. 

"Toltecs,  Tezcucans,  Anhuacs,  fellow  Ameri- 
cans and  brothers,  all!  The  House  of  Iximaga 
stands  for  universal  brotherhood  and  world  life. 
During  six  milleniums  of  history  the  race  of 
human  beings  has  plunged  on,  bathed  in  human 
blood,  blasted  by  racial  prejudice,  blighted  by 
selfishness,  dwarfed  by  littleness  and  cursed  by 
war.  The  Toltecs  have  well-nigh  eliminated 
selfishness,  abolished  war,  inaugurated  permanent 
peace.  Come!  Let  us  abandon  little  narrow- 
ness, forgtt  racial  prejudice  and  inscribe  upon  the 
very  heavens  above  us  universal  tolerance  and 
world  life.  Ben  Igo  Saxon  was  born  in  the 
I'nited  States  of  America,  but  his  ancestors  are 
pure  blood,  direct  descendants  of  Japheth,   full 


195 


Dalleszona 

brother  to  our  mighty  progenitor,  the  illustrious 
Shem. 

"I  beg  of  you  follow  Saxon's  rugged,  flaming 
pathway, — the  hilltop  road  that  meets  the  sky 
and  leads  us  boldly  faring  against  the  very  roof 
of  things.  Take  this  upward  step.  Vote  for  the 
man  with  heart  and  conscience,  brain  and  spirit, 
large  enough  and  pure  enough,  loyal  enough  and 
wise  enough  to  lead  us  into  the  new  era,  the 
new  order,  of  world  life  and  eternal  progression." 

The  next  morning  she  sent  a  messenger  for 
Saxon.  When  he  arrived,  she  said,  "Ben  Igo,  can 
you  take  me  to-day  to  the  Lastuna  Ford  of  the 
Hermosillo  Road?" 

"Yes,  I  can  and  will.  I  had  arranged  to  go 
with  Cantone  to  witness  a  demonstration  by  him 
of  a  new  process,  tempering  gold  as  well  as  cop- 
per by  means  of  mineral  paints  extracted  from 
metal  bearing  ores.  He  assures  me  that  he  has 
196 


The  Chancellor 

produced  an  acid  which  transmutes  the  primary 
colors  of  the  rainbow  from  nature's  laboratories, 
and  can  reproduce  the  ancient  Tyrian  and  Vene- 
tian dyes.  He  surely  showed  me  mirrors  of 
transcendent  clearness  equal  in  reflecting  power 
to  molten  gold.  I  believe  it  to  be  the  most  in- 
teresting and  far-reaching  discovery  of  modern 
times;  but  your  wishes  have  the  right  of  way, 
and  we  will  sail  immediately  for  Lastuna  Hills." 

They  had  not  been  in  the  air  but  a  few  minutes 
when  Saxon  turned  to  Dalleszona  and  said : — 

"Why  do  you  call  me  'Ben  Igo,'  and  what  did 
you  tell  the  voters  last  evening?" 

"Why  do  you  care  to  know?" 

'Don't  worry  about  the  'Why'  please,  for 
really  I  must  know." 

Dalleszona  laughed  in  a  merry,  happy  way  and 
parried  by  asking  what  had  called  him  to  the 
refinery. 

197 


Dalleszona 

"No,  you  cannot  sidetrack  me  by  asking  about 
refineries.  If  you  care  to  save  human  life,  please 
answer  my  question  now." 

"Suppose  I  don't.     What  will  you  do?" 

"Well,  I  might  do  a  lot  of  things.  What  I 
ought  to  do  is  head  this  Mystery  Maid  for  San 
Diego  and  wreck  her  in  the  'Harbor  of  the  Sun'." 

"Would  that  be  a  wise  thing  for  a  man  to  do 
who  is  about  to  be  chosen  chancellor  of  the 
greatest  nation  in  the  world?" 

Saxon  wondered  what  this  new  mood,  half 
serious,  half  playful,  might  mean ;  but  her  face 
was  so  radiantly  beautiful  and  this  upper  air  so 
full  of  sweetness  and  charm  that  he  only  said, 
"Perhaps  what  you  said  will  elect  the  other 
fellow." 

"Why  don't  you  ask  Cantone  about  that? 
Really  I  believe  he  will  remember  what  I  said 
better  than  I  do,  and,  besides,  day  after  to- 
198 


The  Chancellor 

morrow  will  be  election  day,  and  surely  you  can 
wait  that  long  for  an  answer." 

"Very  well.  How  about  the  other  question? 
I  am  more  interested  m  that  than  about  the 
chancellorship." 

"Careful!  Attend  to  your  flying.  The  motor 
seems  a  bit  weak.  That  fog  bank  will  wreck  us 
if  you  don't  watch  out.  What  is  the  matter 
with  the  De  Haviland  to-day,  anyway?  We  are 
not  making  over  seventy  miles  an  hour,  and  we 
ought  to  make  a  hundred  if  we  are  to  come  back 
by  the  lake  and  forum  and  arrive  at  home  in  time 
for  me  to  finish  that  picture  I'm  so  hurried  for." 

"What  picture  is  that?  I  did  not  know  you 
had  opened  a  studio." 

"The  picture  of  the  new  chancellor.  I  prom- 
ised myself  to  have  it  ready  for  his  birthday  next 
Monday." 

Monday  would   be   Saxon's  birthday,   and  he 
199 


Dalleszona 

happened  to  know  it  would  be  Cantone's  birth- 
day, too. 

A  glance  at  Dalleszona's  smiling  face  told  him 
she,  too,  knew  of  the  double  birthday,  and  she 
had  purposely  introduced  the  picture  to  puzzle 
him. 

"How  do  you  know  that  I  am  going  to  bring 
you  back  by  the  lake?" 

"Because  I'm  not  going  to  answer  your  first 
question  until  we  get  back  to  the  lake.  Also 
there  is  a  famous  fortune  teller  there  for  a  week, 
and  I  mean  to  have  our  fortunes  told.  You  just 
must  take  me  there,  and  she  can  tell  you  about 
the  chancellorship." 

"Do  you  promise  to  answer  my  question  if  I 
bring  you  to  the  lake?" 

The  long  lashes  veiled  the  wondrous  eyes  that 
would  not  meet  his  own  as  she  said,  "Yes,  Ben 
Igo,  I  will  answer  your  question  at  the  lake." 
200 


The  Chancellor 

And  somehow  her  manner  of  answering  brought 
great  consolation  to  his  heart,  and  the  sweetness 
of  a  mighty  hope  possessed  his  soul. 

Probably  coming  events,  sometimes  near,  some- 
times far,  are  foreshadowed  to  the  soul.  Be  that 
as  it  may,  the  De  Haviland  had  scarcely  entered 
the  storm  cloud,  ere  Saxon  was  sharply  reminded 
of  Dalleszona's  half-earnest,  half-playful  remark, 
"That  storm  cloud  will  wreck  us  if  you  don't 
watch";  for  electrical  currents  such  as  he  had 
never  before  contended  with  were  already  pulling 
with  appalling  and  well-nigh  resistless  power. 

One  of  the  steel  spring  guy  wires  supporting 
the  extreme  outer  end  of  the  top  left  wing  gave 
way,  and,  swinging  backward,  smote  the  wing 
with  startling  crash.  Saxon  knew  it  might  split 
the  wing  and  lead  to  accident  in  the  strong, 
elemental  currents.  But,  li  it  should  swing  for- 
ward and  be  caught  in  the  propeller  blades, 
201 


Dalleszona 

nothing  short  of  a  miracle  could  prevent  the 
machine  from  dropping  swiftly  to  utter  destruc- 
tion. He  could  fasten  the  spring  in  a  few  mo- 
ments, but  was  afraid  to  trust  the  steering  wheel 
to  Dalleszona  in  the  terrific  force  of  the  storm. 

Then  Saxon  learned  something  of  the  courage 
and  daring  of  a  great  woman's  spirit. 

Taking  a  pair  of  pliers  and  stretcher,  she 
climbed  up  the  hatchway  and  swiftly  worked  her 
way  to  the  farthest  edge  of  the  great  wing,  caught 
the  whirling  spring,  drew  it  tense,  made  it  secure, 
and  returned  in  safety  to  Saxon's  side.  At  the 
same  moment  he  felt  the  loss  of  power  in  the 
engine.  Something  was  interfering  with  the  fuel 
feed.  Then  he  opened  the  feed  line  from  the 
emergency  tank,  and  instantly  realized  with  sick- 
ened soul  that  it  was  empty.  Someone  had 
tampered  with  the  De  Haviland,  for  he  had  filled 
the  emergency  tank  the  evening  before,  but  had 
202 


The  Chancellor 

not  used  it  on  the  trip  to  the  refinery.  Mean- 
time the  machine  was  dropping  and  pitching  in  a 
frightful  way,  and  soon  must  be  entirely  beyond 
control. 

Dalleszona  lifted  the  trap  door,  slipped  through 
to  the  chassis,  found  a  loosened  union  on  the 
gasoline  line,  connected  it,  and  Saxon  felt  the 
renewal  of  power  as  they  shot  out  of  the  cloud 
into  sunlight  at  terrific  speed  in  a  nose  spin  to- 
ward jagged  cliffs. 

In  the  confusion  and  darkness  of  the  cloud 
he  had  not  noticed  Dalleszona's  action,  and  the 
door,  fastened  by  a  spring  catch  from  above, 
prevented  her  return.  But  when  the  machine 
was  again  under  control,  he  turned,  to  find  her 
seat  vacant:  his  brain  seemed  paralyzed,  though 
by  instinct,  perhaps,  he  guided  the  machine  to 
safe  landing.     As   the   Mystery   Maid   came   to 


203 


Dalleszona 

anchor,  everything  went  black,  though  his  tense 
grip  still  held  the  wheel. 

When  he  recovered  consciousness,  Dalleszona's 
white  face  was  very  close  to  his  own,  and  she 
held  his  hands  in  closest  grasp  as  she  laughingly 
told  him  how  she  had  connected  the  feed  pipe, 
then  swung  from  the  frame,  until  the  chassis 
trailed  the  chaparral,  and,  by  some  miracle,  she 
had  been  thrown,  unhurt,  into  a  heavy  bunch  of 
pampas  plumes. 

Saxon  gazed  upon  her  radiant  face  speechless, 
until  a  slow  smile  played  upon  the  tender  lips, 
and  she  shyly  said,  "Ben  Igo,  will  you  take  me 
to  the  lake  and  forum  as  we  return  from  Lastuna 
Ford?" 

The  answer  and  look  he  gave  her  brought 
scarlet  flame  to  her  face  and  neck ;  but,  springing 
to  her  feet,  she  exclaimed,  "We  must  be  on  our 


204 


The  Chancellor 

way,  Ben  Igo,  or  we  will  have  no  time  for  that 
fortune  teller's  vision." 

One  hundred  miles  in  seventy  minutes,  and 
the  Mystery  Maid  anchored  in  safety  beside 
Lastuna's  sparkling  waters. 

The  glen  where  the  tents  had  stood  was  just 
the  same ;  but  flood  waters  had  pushed  the 
channel  of  the  stream  close  to  the  lonely  grave, 
then  thrown  a  boulder  reef  that  made  it  safe 
forevermore. 

Around  the  turn  of  the  jagged  rocks,  where 
the  bodies  of  the  bandits  had  been  buried,  the 
waters  had  swept  everything  clean  to  bedrock. 

Long  and  carefully  they  searched  the  crevices 
of  the  granite  wall  where  the  girls  crouched 
during  the  battle,  and  at  last  the  throat  pin  was 
found.  It  was  a  priceless  emerald  in  setting  of 
beaten  gold,  wondrously  engraved,  and  Dalles- 
zona's  joy  was  beyond  measure. 
205 


Dalleszona 

"For  eighteen  hundred  years,"  she  said,  "no 
daughter  of  the  House  of  Iximaga  has  come  to 
her  wedding-day  without  this  pin  at  her  throat." 
Then,  with  a  world  of  mischief  in  her  laughing 
eyes,  she  added,  "I  may  need  it  soon."  And 
Saxon  dared  not  to  ask  her  any  other  word  lest 
her  answer  crush  his  new-born  hopes. 

Just  above  the  forum  at  the  lake  lies  a  broad 
mesa  that  served  as  training  base  for  the  Toltec 
aerial  merchant  marine.  Here  they  left  the 
Mystery  Maid  and,  descending  broad  marble 
stairs  to  the  water's  edge,  entered  a  small  motor 
launch,  for  the  luncheon  Dalleszona's  own  hands 
had  prepared. 

Under  Saxon's  own  personal  supervision,  the 
temple,  court  and  amphitheater  had  been  fully 
restored,  and  lay  like  a  magnificent  jewel  in  the 
vale  on  the  mountain's  breast. 

After  a  happy,  never-to-be-forgotten  hour  on 
206 


The  Chancellor 

the  tideless  lake,  they  passed  from  the  Lotus 
Bloom  and  waters  of  Lethe,  through  the  great 
temple  and  beyond  its  courts  to  a  natural  grotto 
in  the  rear  of  the  amphitheater. 

In  some  ancient  age  the  grotto  had  been  en- 
larged by  human  hands,  and  one  wall,  built  of 
various  colored  flints,  had  been  fused  by  intense 
heat,  until  the  whole  wall  appeared  to  be  fretted 
with  all  manner  of  precious  stones,  and,  dazzling 
light  falling  upon  it,  one  involuntarily  thought 
of  that  city  whose  foundations  are  garnished  with 
all  manner  of  gems,  whose  Maker  and  Builder 
is  God.  A  rose-pink  onjx  partition  had  been 
thrown  almost  across  the  grotto,  dividing  it  into 
two  good-sized  rooms,  with  an  open  corridor  lead- 
ing to  the  second  room.  In  the  first  room,  dimly 
lighted,  was  an  alcove,  which  afforded  view  of 
exit  from  the  trance  room.  Originally  used  as 
a  rest  room  for  speakers  in  the  forum,  now  it 
207 


Dalleszona 

was  given  over  to  the  use  of  clairvoyants,  fortune 
tellers  and  all  sorts  of  people  gifted  with  any  or 
all  occult  forces.  Here,  now,  Torclez,  most 
beautiful  and  brilliant  woman  of  all  Central 
America, — professional  destiny  artist, — dealt  in 
past  and  futures,  of  all  colors,  brands  and  degrees 
of  excellence,  and  numbered  among  her  votaries 
not  only  peons  and  notables  of  Chalcedon,  but 
celebrities  and  millionaires  from  everywhere. 

The  range  and  register  of  Torclez's  excursions 
into  either  past  or  future  seemed  limitless.  Des- 
tinies of  four  and  twelve  cylinders,  submarine  and 
airplane  destinies  of  high  voltage  and  persistent 
amperes,  ranging  in  price  from  a  few  pesos  to 
thousands,  were  disposed  of,  according  to  zeal, 
enthusiasm  and  financial  ability  of  the  candidates 
for  occult  wisdom  and  information. 

Usually  her  parlors  and  reception  rooms  were 


208 


The  Charicellor 

crowded  with  beauty  and  chivalry,  but  to-day's 
rush  was  about  over. 

"Please  be  seated.  Not  long  to  wait.  Only 
one  client  ahead  of  you,"  said  the  attendant,  and 
Saxon  and  Dalleszona  took  cushioned  seats  in  the 
shadowy  alcove.  Saxon  had  little  if  any  faith  in 
the  so-called  marvelous  visions  of  this  revealer 
of  secrets,  and  would  much  have  preferred  the 
afternoon  alone  with  Dalleszona.  But  she  really 
wished  to  test  Torclez's  powers,  and  Saxon 
would  have  gone  to  Hades,  if  need  be,  to  please 
Dalleszona  to-day.  However,  the  time  in  the 
alcove  was  not  entirely  without  compensation,  for 
they  had  to  converse  in  whispers,  which  compelled 
them  to  sit  close  together,  and  the  waiting  period 
seemed  short. 

Suddenly  a  shadow  appeared  on  the  corridor 
wall,  and  a  moment  later  Cantone,  with  elastic 


209 


Dalleszona 

step  and  smiling  face,  passed  from  the  destiny 
revealer's  room. 

"Pardon  me,  Ben  Igo,"  said  Dalleszona  with 
a  smothered  laugh,  "now's  your  chance.  I'll 
excuse  you  for  a  moment  if  you  wish  to  ask  Can- 
tone  about  my  speech  at  the  rally.  I'm  sure  he 
knows  just  what  you  desire  to  learn,  and  possibly 
he  could  give  some  interesting  data  on  the  chan- 
cellorship. But  do  be  brief  and  don't  leave  me 
here  alone  long." 

"No,  thank  you.  I  greatly  prefer  to  receive 
information  on  that  meeting  first  hand  from  you," 
but  deep  in  his  soul  he  would  have  given  much 
to  know  just  what  the  brilliant  and  charming 
Torclez  had  told  Cantone  concerning  the  chan- 
cellorship and  to-morrow's  elections.  Also  he 
could  not  help  wondering  how  much  influence 
this  fair  enchantress  might  have  with  voters  in 
the  southern  provinces.  And,  too,  if  she  were 
210 


The  Chancellor 

a  friend  of  Dalleszona,  possibly  she  really  knew 
some  things  that  could  be  of  great  comfort  to 
Cantone.  So  he  covered  his  anxiety  by  asking: 
"What  do  you  know  about  this  Torclez?  Have 
you  ever  met  her?" 

"Yes,  before  I  went  to  school  at  Hermosillo 
she  and  I  were  good  friends  for  a  year  at  Oaxaca, 
and  I  saw  her  again  several  times  when  I  toured 
the  southern  provinces  \vith  Cantone  during  the 
campaign.  She  certainly  is  the  most  fascinating 
and  wonderful  woman  I  have  ever  met,  and 
surely  is  possessed  of  some  strange  gift.  You 
know  how  matter-of-fact  my  father  is,  and  even 
he  admits  that  Torclez  possesses  some  strong, 
unearthly  power  not  accounted  for  by  human 
wisdom." 

"Then  you  really  believe  there  is  something 
in  this  soothsayer's,  magician's  claims?" 

"Yes,  I  know  there  is,  or  used  to  be.  For  in 
211 


Dalleszona 

ancient  times  the  Elohim  of  the  Shemiites  warned 
their  wise  men,  and  indeed  all  classes,  to  not  have 
anything  to  do  with  wizards  and  necromancers, 
and  divine  wisdom  never  warns  against  imaginary 
nothings." 

"Well,  if  there  is  divine  prohibition  against 
them,  why  do  you  seek  to  play  the  game?" 

"The  prohibitions  were  never  laid  upon  my 
people,  and  may  have  been  purely  arbitrary  or 
of  local  value.  Still,  to  tell  the  whole  truth, 
]\Ir.  Chancellor,  I  am  not  seeking  any  informa- 
tion concerning  the  future,  and  will  confess  to 
just  a  freak  curiosity  to  see  how  much  of  the 
past  she  can  reveal.  You  know  it  is  the  pursuit 
of  the  mysterious  that  furnishes  most  of  the 
thrills  of  life,  from  human  standpoint." 

Just  then  the  attendent  summoned  them  to  the 
sanctum  sanctorum  of  the  Nicaraguan  enchant- 
ress. 

212 


The  Chaficel/or 

As  Dalleszona's  hand  rested  upon  his  arm,  he 
could  feel  her  trembling,  and  somehow  his  heart 
cried  out  for  his  mother's  presence,  and  he 
mentally  resolved  to  call  for  her  if  opportunity 
offered. 

Perhaps  in  all  the  world,  in  all  ages,  human 
eyes  have  never  rested  upon  a  more  wonderful 
setting  than  that  which  Saxon  and  Dallcszona 
now  looked  upon.  On  a  throne  carved  from 
purest  chalcedony,  decorated  with  ribbon  agate 
and  satin  spar,  half-sitting  half-reclining,  upon 
silken  cushions,  Torclez  awaited  them.  Imme- 
diately in  front  of  her  was  a  table  of  burnished 
gold,  studded  with  priceless  gems.  Just  across 
the  table  was  a  dais  of  tiger  eye,  with  arms  and 
back  of  alter-rail  design  chiseled  from  azurite  and 
bordered  with  golden  sapphires  and  pigeon-blood 
rubies. 

To  this  seat  Torcles  beckoned  them  with  jew- 
213 


Dalleszona 

elled  hands,  smiling  face  sweet  as  a  praying  angel 
and  eyes  of  lambent  flame. 

"Bless  my  soul!  It  is  my  school-girl  chum, 
Dalleszona.  Sweetheart,  how  came  you  here? 
This  morning  I  saw  you  swinging  from  the 
chassis  of  an  airplane,  hurled  like  a  thunderbolt 
of  Thor  from  a  storm  cloud.  How  did  you 
escape,  and  what  brings  you  here?  I  see,  too, 
that  you  have  the  wedding  pin  of  the  Iximagas 
at  your  throat.  Tell  me,  girl,  what  is  on  your 
heart  to-day?  What  blessing  do  you  crave  from 
the  spirit  world  ?  Or  may  be  you  have  sweet 
secrets  to  share  with  me." 

Blushing,  laughing,  Dallaszona  answered:  "I 
wished  my  friend  here  to  meet  you,  and  together 
we  want  you  to  take  us  to  the  lands  of  the  unseen, 
where  we  mortals  may  not  go  without  a  guide. 
But,   understand,  we  want  only  the  past.     No 


214 


The  Chancellor 

dealings  In  futures.  Time  enough  for  that  when 
they  are  revealed  by  enrolling  years." 

They  were  seated  close  to  the  artificial  parti- 
tion of  the  grotto,  facing  what  seemed  a  solid 
wall  of  masonry  a  short  distance  beyond  Torclez. 
.  "How  fortunate  you  are,  Dalleszona.  To-day 
of  all  days  is  the  most  favorable,  for  to-night 
the  Aztec  moon  fulls,  and  the  people  of  all  lands, 
all  realms  beneath  yon  dome  where  God's  own 
hands  hath  hung  the  stars,  will  be  sailing  the 
uncharted  seas  watching  for  beacon  lights  on  the 
shores  of  time.  Your  people  on  the  other  side, 
knowing  of  your  adventure  m  the  clouds  this 
morning,  will  bring  you  messages  of  infinite  joy." 

Suddenly  the  lights  dissolved  into  darkness. 
The  air  became  heavy  with  perfume  from  unseen 
censors.  A  large  disc  on  the  opposite  wall  rolled 
away,  and  obliquely  across  a  jewelled  corridor 
from  unseen  source  fell  the  pathway  of  a  brighter 
215 


Dalleszona 

light  than  they  had  ever  seen.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment a  sense  of  rhythm  as  of  sandalled  footsteps 
pulsed  upon  the  air.  Every  faculty  of  soul  and 
spirit  was  so  responsive  to  the  sense  of  tre- 
mendous mystery,  that  instinctively  Saxon  took 
Dalleszona's  hand,  and  found  her  pulse  only  a 
trifle  above  normal;  but  the  blood  was  pounding 
to  her  very  finger  tips,  and  her  eyes  widened  with 
infinite  wonder  and  literally  blazed  with  im- 
mortal fire,  and  he  realized  he  had  been  per- 
mitted to  look  upon  the  very  soul  of  this  great 
woman  as  she  approached,  undaunted,  the  border- 
land of  mighty  spiritual  scenes. 

An  instant  later  the  intangible,  immaterial, 
but  substantial  forms  of  a  man  and  woman 
entered  the  path  of  light,  and  Saxon  felt  swept 
from  all  moorings  as  he  instantly  recognized  the 
transfigured  forms  of  Dalleszona's  father  and 
mother.  The  spirit  body  was  an  absolute  perfect 
216 


The  Chancellor 

counterpart  of  their  physical  bodies  as  they  must 
have  been  in  the  zenith  of  fleshly  power,  ere  the 
corroding  hand  of  time  and  age  had  touched 
them.  But  more  wonderful  than  form  and 
feature  was  the  effect  of  the  marvelous  light 
upon  the  spiritual  forces.  It  was  an  X-ray  of 
mind  and  heart,  conscience  and  will  purpose  and 
aspiration.  As  the  vision  progressed,  not  only 
the  thoughts  and  deeds,  but  the  motives  and  de- 
sires of  body,  soul  and  spirit  of  this  splendid 
couple  stood  out  in  bold  relief.  Sw^iftly  as  thought 
travels,  Saxon  was  startled  and  ovenvhelmcd 
with  possible  results  if  this  strange  revealing  light 
were  brought  into  every-day  affairs  of  mortals, 
so  that  each  might  know  the  thoughts,  motives 
and  desires  of  all,  and  all  of  each,  and  truly 
he  wondered  if  he  would  be  willing  to  give  the 
world  each  day  an  X-ray  of  his  own  conscience, 
— mental  and  moral  processes.  Would  the  race 
217 


Dalleszona 

reform,  or  become  moral  outcasts  like  the  lepers 
of  olden  time?     Who  could  say. 

As  her  parents  passed  from  sight,  two  other 
forms  appeared,  and  Dalleszona  whispered,  "My 
grandfather  and  mother."  But  in  their  case,  all 
that  had  been  bad  or  looked  in  the  way  of  evil 
was  blank,  while  all  the  good  they  had  done  or 
desired  to  do  and  could  not,  by  reason  of 
untoward  surroundings  or  lack  of  ability,  were 
given  fullest  credit.  But  the  young  couple  shud- 
dered as  they  realized  the  frequency  and  length 
of  the  blanks. 

Swiftly  the  long  procession  passed,  winding 
down  from  the  summit  of  far-off  ages,  climbing, 
climbing,  ever  climbing  to  the  sun  bright  realms 
of  a  new  heaven  and  new  earth,  wherein  only 
righteousness  dwells. 

Then  Torclez  spoke:  "Dalleszona,  you  wished 
to  know  something  of  your  past.  Behold  now, 
218 


The  Chancellor 

your  ancestors  for  thirty  generations,  fifteen 
hundred  years.  They  are  your  past,  and  you  are 
what  they  have  made.  Will  you  pass  the  record 
on,  undefiled?  Your  thoughts  of  to-day  will  be 
the  flesh  and  blood  of  to-morrow."  Transfixed 
and  awed,  but  with  throbbing  heart  and  swinging 
brain,  Dalleszona  watched  the  long  lines  of  an- 
cestral spirits  pass  the  revealing  light  until  all 
were  gone  and  only  silence  possessed  the  corridor. 
Saxon,  too,  was  thrilled  by  the  transcendent  im- 
mortal power  of  family  life,  as  he  beheld  this 
House  of  Iximaga  through  fifteen  hundred  years 
of  mortal  time, — leaders  in  flush  and  power  of 
progress;  leaders  calm  and  steadfast  in  centuries 
of  defeat;  leaders  patient  and  brave  through 
suffering  and  sorrows  untold ;  leaders  with  un- 
tainted blood  pulsing  through  arteries  and  veins, 
under  stress  of  mighty  temptation  ;  great  men  and 
women,  with  heart,  conscience  and  motive  un- 
219 


Dalleszona 

defiled;  unconquered  and  unconquerable,  stand- 
ing always  and  ever  foursquare  to  the  world, 
struggling  sublimely  on  to  highest  ideals.  If  this 
was  Dalleszona's  past,  what  must  her  future  be? 
Was  he  worthy  of  the  love,  devotion  and  in- 
spiration of  this  bloom  and  blessing  of  fifteen 
hundred  years?  Could  he  make  her  happy?  And 
how  about  the  blanks  in  his  own  life  through  the 
process  of  years? 

When  Torclez  turned  to  Saxon  for  instruc- 
tion, he  did  not  speak,  but  his  eyes  questioned 
Dalleszona.  Placing  her  restless  but  firm  little 
hand  in  his,  she  said,  "Surely,  Ben  Igo,  I  would 
see  your  people,  especially  your  mother."  When 
his  father  and  mother  stepped  into  the  corridor, 
vigorous  and  splendid,  as  he  knew  them  before 
he  laid  their  mortal  bodies  to  rest  in  the  broad 
prairies  of  Kansas,  fifteen  years  before,  joy  and 
gladness  filled  his  soul,  and  he  thanked  God  the 
220 


The  Chancellor 

blanks  were  so  few,  and  the  high  resolves  and 
honest  endeavors  so  many,  and  the  upward  long- 
ings, too,  were  great.  Then  "backward,  turn 
backward,  O  time  in  your  flight,"  across  the 
waste  of  centuries  in  Old  Asia.  Blood  and 
flame,  joy  and  sorrow,  laughter  and  tears,  on, 
still  on,  till  a  mighty  throng  surged  around  three 
cross  trees  upon  a  hill  just  outside  the  capital 
city  of  the  ancient  Jebusites,  while  hills  rocked 
and  blinding  darkness  fell  across  the  midday  sun, 
and  Saxon  knew,  once  and  forevermore  that  his 
ancestors  had  witnessed  the  Crucifixion  of  the 
]VIan  of  Galilee. 

The  very  air  seemed  dense  and  chill.     Then 
Torclez  spoke: — ■ 

"Ben  Igo,  friend  of  my  friend,  Dalleszona, — 
you  have  not  sought  to  know  the  future,  but  I 
crave   to   reveal  one   day,  just  one  day,   in   the 
tremendous  future  so  near  at  hand." 
221 


Dalleszona 

Again  the  light  in  the  corridor  glowed,  but 
now  'twas  planet  earth,  cleft  in  twain  through 
the  heart  of  the  Mother  Sea,  which  appeared  as 
a  mighty  scroll  with  millions  and  millions  and 
still  more  millions  of  human  beings  struggling  in 
a  sea  of  blood  that  swelled  to  tumultuous  flood, 
but  swiftly  ebbed  away  while  the  mighty  spirit 
of  brotherhood  illumined  the  velvet  sky,  and 
above  the  faces  of  wives  and  mothers  and  daugh- 
ters and  sweethearts  the  beautiful  hand  of 
womanhood  wrote  these  words  "Faith — Hope — 
Love,"  and  the  voice  of  kindred  tribes,  tongues, 
nations  and  races  swelled  in  thunderous  diapason, 
"Peace  on  earth,  Good  will  to  men."  "We 
must  have  a  Business  Manager  to  lead  the  na- 
tions who  will  deal  with  honesty  and  truth, — a 
Chancellor  of  World  Life  to  lead  us  to  the 
Land  of  the  Heart's  Desire." 

Passing  from  the  grotto,  their  hearts  throb- 
222 


The  Chancellor 

bing  with  tumultuous  mystery  and  unanswerable 
questionings,  hand  in  hand  they  climbed  to  the 
topmost  seats  of  the  splendid  amphitheater,  to 
watch  the  miracles  of  cloudlands  wheel  across  the 
sunbeamed  spaces.  Silently,  swiftly,  snow-white 
cloud  continents,  piled  heaven  high,  swung  into 
place  south  and  east,  as  the  low-descending  sun's 
fiery  lances  shot  them  through  with  phantom 
glory. 

When  these  billows  of  snow  and  flame  rolled 
in  unbroken  tides  from  the  Mayan  Gulf  to  the 
jagged  summits  of  the  Cordilleras,  and  the 
heavens  above  seemed  transfused  with  rose  and 
gold,  Saxon  turned  to  Dalleszona,  simply,  but 
earnestly : — 

"Dalleszona,  you  must  know  I  have  loved  and 
do  now  love  you  with  all  my  heart  and  soul. 
Do  you  love  me?     Will  you  be  my  wife?" 

His  heart  was  satisfied  with  the  light  in  her 
223 


Dalleszona 

eyes  as  she  took  his  face  between  her  hands, 
drawing  it  close  to  her  own,  and  said,  in  low, 
sweet  voice,  "Ben  Igo,  my  Ben  Igo,  for  five  years 
I  have  loved  you  with  an  everlasting  love. 
Where  you  go  I  will  go.  Where  you  live  I  will 
live.  Your  people  shall  be  my  people,  your  God 
my  God.  Into  your  care  and  keeping  I  gladly 
give  all  I  am  or  may  be  in  this  world  or  the 
next.     I  v.ill  be  your  wife." 

Lengthening  shadows  warned  of  approaching 
night.  The  voiceless  magic  of  the  twilight  hour 
breathed  its  enchantment  over  an  entirely  new 
world  for  these  two  happy  hearts.  With  the 
wonder  of  loving  upon  them  and  the  mystery  of 
heaven  about  them,  the  bloom  of  life  and  fra- 
grance of  spirit  surged  through  heart  and  brain 
with  passionate  power.  Lover  and  sweetheart 
saw  visions  and  dreamed  dreams  and  whispered 
airy  nothings  of  eternal  charm.  The  Aztec  moon 
224 


The  Chancellor 

rose  full  and  free  above  the  Mayan  Gulf,  with 
the  face  of  the  Toltec  Queen  smiling,  and  in- 
voluntarily Saxon  thought  of  Highfinger,  his 
strange  erratic  friend,  from  whose  leadings  this 
great  blessing  and  perfect  happiness  had  come  to 
him. 

"Dalleszona,  my  Dalleszona,  you  have  loved 
me  all  these  years.  When  did  you  first  suspect 
I  loved  you?" 

"I  never  did  suspect  it.  I  knew,  that  night 
we  camped  in  the  Valley  of  the  Oleanders,  when 
we  climibed  above  the  laughing  waters,  and  you 
asked  me  to  tell  you  somewhat  of  my  people  and 
the  manner  of  their  coming.  I  also  knew  you 
were  battling  with  race  prejudice,  and  that  was 
why  the  mirage  the  next  morning  meant  so  much 
for  me." 

"And  yet  you  never  let  me  know  by  word  or 


225 


Dalleszo7ia 

sign,  through  all  the  years,  you  naughty,  naughty, 
precious  girl." 

"Well,  you  see,  it  is  this  way.  We  Toltecs 
have  a  legend  from  ancient  days  that,  when  the 
world  waa  young,  Faith,  Hope  and  Love  lived  in 
a  temple  all  their  own.  To  this  temple  mortals 
came  with  their  selfishness,  greed,  suspicion,  envy, 
jealousy,  hate  and  revenge  in  their  hearts;  but, 
remaining  there  for  a  time,  these  evil  passions 
began  to  atrophy,  sicken  and  die  one  by  one, — 
not  one  could  live  beyond  five  years.  No  sane 
woman  would  ever  marry  a  man  if  she  knew  he 
had  these  misery  breeding  germs  in  his  spirit. 
But  the  trouble  is  that  men  are  so  nice  during 
courtship  days,  the  women  think  they  are  per- 
fectly lovely,  sweet  angels.  Short  courtships  and 
long  divorces  seem  to  be  close  friends  now-a-days. 
But,  if  you  can  get  a  man  to  behave  himself  for 
five  years,  he  is  a  pretty  safe  investment  as  a 
226 


The  Chancellor 

husband.  We  Toltecs  do  not  propose  to  make  a 
failure  of  the  greatest  thing  in  life,  nor  enter  the 
next  with  tremendous  handicap  of  a  vagabond 
husband.  So  for  fifteen  hundred  years  every 
daughter  of  the  House  of  Iximaga  has  been 
courted  at  least  five  years  before  her  wedding 
day,  and  happiness  has  always  come  to  them, 
even  through  all  the  centuries  when  our  power 
and  greatness  was  brought  to  desolation.  During 
courtship  both  lover  and  sweetheart  live  their 
best,  look  their  best,  do  their  best  to  please  the 
other.  This  habit  of  doing  one's  best  goes  with 
them  into  married  life  and  brings  great  joy.  So, 
you  see,  Ben  I  go,  no  matter  about  that  chan- 
cellorship, or  any  other  thing  in  all  the  world, 
you  and  I  are  going  to  have  everlasting  happiness 
for  all  the  coming  years,  and  that  is  greatest 
wealth  and  highest  power." 

"But  tell  me,  sweetheart,  what  do  you  think 
227 


Dalleszona 

of  this  vision  of  Torclez  concerning  the  chan- 
cellorship. Perhaps  Cantone  will  be  elected.  You 
know  he  looked  very  happy  as  he  passed  down 
the  corridor." 

"Never  you  worry,  my  great  and  mighty 
chancellor.  Cantone  won't  come  in  a  million 
miles,  nor  votes  either,  of  the  chancellorship. 
The  House  of  Iximaga  has  been  preserved  for 
such  an  hour  as  this.  I  believe  Torclez's  vision 
absolutely.  I  spoke  for  you  at  the  rally,  and  you 
surely  will  be  chosen  chancellor  to-morrow,  and 
Chalcedon  will  soon  rule  the  world  in  peace  and 
love.  It  must  be  so  because  this  cruel  war  has 
destroyed  the  wealth  it  took  a  hundred  years  to 
produce.  We  have  the  gold  and  silver  stored  in 
God's  own  treasure  vaults,  to  finance  a  bankrupt 
world.  Our  petroleum  reservoirs  can  furnish 
fuel  for  airships,  submarines  and  merchant  fleets 
of  a  globe.  Within  thirty  days  the  ambassadors 
228 


The  Chancellor 

of  Europe  and  Asia  will  be  knocking  at  our  doors, 
imploring  our  aid.  Chalcedon  can  and  shall  lead 
the  nations  on  to  undreamed  heights  of  material 
splendor  and  spiritual  power. 

"Come,  Ben  Igo,  the  happy  hearts  of  Truxlan 
will  soon  swell  the  vesper  song.  Already  the 
pilots  of  our  merchant  squadrons  are  dropping 
through  the  purple  twilight  to  hangars  on  the 
mesa.  Let  us  swing  the  Mystery  Maid  into 
the  mystic  moonlight  and  drop  through  the 
boundless  spaces  to  Home  Sweet  Home." 

So  ended  the  perfect  day. 

Dalleszona's  prophecy  was  correct.  Only  an 
inspired  womanhood  can  vision  the  reconstruction 
of  the  nations  and  sense  the  divine  forces  that 
shall  regenerate  the  governments  of  a  world. 
The  Womanhood  Age  is  at  hand,  and  the  world's 
best  blessings  must  soon  be  realized. 

Twenty  days  later  five  thousand  airships  were 
229 


Dalleszona 

straining  at  their  moorings  in  Truxlan, — of  latest 
design,  aluminum-double-hulled,  vacuum  cham- 
bered, passenger-carrying  transports,  capable  of 
highest  speed  and  practically  immune  from  ac- 
cident from  falling. 

The  wedding  day  of  Saxon  and  Dalleszona, 
and  the  inauguration  of  Saxon  as  permanent 
chancellor,  was  the  occasion  of  this  gathering 
now.  The  rites  were  to  be  administered  at  the 
Forum,  and  the  fleet  was  to  carry  the  thousands 
there.  But  how  may  I  describe  the  manner  of 
their  going.  No  such  sight  had  ever  been  wit- 
nessed on  this  earth.  It  certainly  was  splendid 
beyond  description,  as  they  rose  with  fluttering 
banners  and  streaming  pennants  above  Truxlan, 
half  a  mile  wide,  terraced  five  thousand  feet  high, 
their  white  hulls  gleaming  in  the  morning  sun. 

Like  a  mighty  flood  of  waters  in  tremendous 
cascades  congealed  against  the  sapphire  skies,  they 
230 


The  Chancellor 

moved  in  stately  grandeur  toward  the  shadowy 
heights  of  Castile  Leon,  where  the  happy  thou- 
sands filled  the  great  amphitheater  to  overflowing. 
Under  the  inspiring  strains  of  Kavadema's 
wedding  march  Saxon  and  Dalleszona  entered 
the  Forum  in  full  view  of  the  admiring  thou- 
sands, and  took  the  sweetly  solemn  vows  that 
joined  their  hearts  and  hands  and  interests  for 
life. 

Immediately,  with  Dalleszona  still  at  his  side, 
Saxon  stepped  to  the  platform  where  Iximaga 
administered  the  chancellor's  oath:  "I  pledge  al- 
legiance to  God,  to  my  country  and  our  flag, 
and  the  principles  for  which  they  stand, — Love, 
Liberty  and  Humanity."  Instantly  a  mighty 
cheer  rose  from  the  happy  thousands,  then  as 
quickly  ended,  as  the  roar  of  motors  and  the  rush 
of  a  hundred  airplanes,  of  war  design  and  ancient 
construction,  circled  above  the  mountain's  brow 
231 


Dalleszona 

and  dropped  to  the  training  field  near  by.  In  a 
few  minutes  the  visitors,  numbering  well  above 
a  hundred,  robed  in  Oriental  costumes,  descended 
the  marble  steps  under  flag  of  truce,  and  stood 
before  the  chancellor's  platforn^.  The  ambassa- 
dors of  China  and  Hindustan,  turbaned  and 
sandalled,  bowed  low  before  Iximaga,  then 
spoke : — 

"Brothers  and  friends  of  the  world's  golden 
age,  we  represent  the  nation  of  continents  beyond 
the  seas.  Our  people  have  watched  your  progress 
in  Peace,  and  sensed  your  power  in  Love.  We 
have  come  to  claim  your  guidance  and  wisdom, 
and  ask  the  leadership  of  your  great  chancellor 
here,  to  inspire  the  business  management  of  a 
thousand  millions  of  human  beings  just  across  the 
Mother  Sea.  Weary  of  endless  strife,  we  would 
make  with  you  a  covenant  of  everlasting  Peace, 


232 


The  Chancellor 

a  permanent  League  of  Friendship  for  the  na- 
tions of  a  World  Life." 

Then  up  from  the  ambassadors  and  down  from 
the  Chalcedonian  hosts  came  the  cry,  exultant, 
triumphant,  overwhelming: — 

"Universal  Peace!  Eternal  Brotherhood! 
Long  live  the  Chancellor!" 

As  the  voice  of  the  mighty  throng  swelled  in 
tumultuous  enthusiasm,  the  great  heart  of  the 
chancellor  was  filled  with  overmastering  joy,  and 
his  soul  caught  the  strains  of  divinest  music,  as 
of  harp  strings  swept  by  the  fluttering  fingers  of 
the  Eternal,  because  the  minted  millions  of  the 
Seventh  Treasure  were  already  swiftly  flowing  in 
streams  of  blessing  for  the  whole  world.  All 
nations,  girded  and  sandalled,  clothed  in  their 
right  minds,  expectant  stood,  facing  the  Dawn 
of  Peace. 

Best  of  all,  illuminating  the  success  of  the  pres- 
233 


Dalleszona 

ent,  transforming  and  glorifying  the  hope  of  the 
Future,  was  the  immortal  spirit  of  Dalleszona, 
herald  of  the  new  age,  the  Womanhood  Age,  the 
world's  Golden  Age,  lifting,  laughing,  loving, 
every  kindred,  tribe  and  tongue,  beckoning  on  to 
consummation  of  the  Heart's  Desire, — Eternal 
Progression. 

Vale. 


234 


